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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the title holders are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with facts and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “As a team, we're certainly letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the media after a match 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 expressed visible fury while challenging the squad 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, he answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons 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 Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He said: “Wednesday is another opportunity 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 the collective focus as well.”