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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing assessment of the club's woeful title defence, confessing the title holders are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back 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 in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the press after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger 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.” Asked whether that is happening, he answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing 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.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the recent additions. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“Show character 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 view, because Liverpool has been going through many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. He said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I'll go home and try to think how we can improve results and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”