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

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat 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 present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a great build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with facts and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a game as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, he answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone 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 effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk added: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I hope everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility to reverse the situation 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 have to stick together and not point fingers.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been going through many adversity over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “Wednesday is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll go home and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”