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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing evaluation of the club's woeful title defence, confessing the title holders are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his anger after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

The captain described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing reality and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “As a team, we're definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper typically addresses the media after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, he answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk continued: “This season we lack any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“Show character and face the toughness and go again, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place 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 exhausting but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He commented: “The next game is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I'll return and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”