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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing facts and the truth is we gave away a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated the defender. “We are definitely letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a match as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether this is occurring, he replied: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450m to replenish 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 new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “This season we lack any steady form, we allow excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to assign blame but unity is essential. We have been through it together 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 confront the hardship and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because this club has been enduring 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 only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I'll go home and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”