🔗 Share this article

Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're 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 present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a match as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to respond. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to assign blame 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 must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I'll return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”