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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt assessment of Liverpool's disappointing title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and letting down manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his anger after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“There was a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing facts and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the media after a match as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to return and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”