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Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing assessment of the club's disappointing title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing facts and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated the defender. “We are 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 mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I want the boys to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450m to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles 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 point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and claimed the title and all contributed, and when you go through a challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. He commented: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I'll return and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”