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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing evaluation of the club's disappointing title defence, confessing the title holders are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds 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 seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“There was a great build-up to the match but in a game you are facing facts and the truth is we gave away a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “As a team, we're certainly letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll return and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”