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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt evaluation of the club's woeful championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing facts and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely failing the manager, 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 present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable 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 effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman added: “This season we lack any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame 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 avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because this club has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He said: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”