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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a game you are facing facts and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “We are definitely letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any teammate in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I want the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and when you go through a challenging phase you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He commented: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”