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The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt assessment of Liverpool's disappointing title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

The captain described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal 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 facing facts and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “We are certainly letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked 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 have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team 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 difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “This season we lack any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because Liverpool has been going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out 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 domestic league is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can improve results and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”