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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “As a team, we're certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – so loud that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and tempting to point fingers but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and claimed the title and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because this club has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s tiring 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 midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”