🔗 Share this article

The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt assessment of the club's woeful championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing facts and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated Van Dijk. “We are definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, 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: Step Up

The skipper usually speaks the media after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, he answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, 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 consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective 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 confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool has been going through many adversity 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

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to return and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”