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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool's disappointing title defence, confessing 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 struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing reality and the truth is we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “We are certainly 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 crisis because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “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 want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman added: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust 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 everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. He commented: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”