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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and letting down head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his frustration after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a great build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing facts and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves 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 mess – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any player 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 main thing for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” When questioned whether this is occurring, he replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I want the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool invested almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to accept duty to reverse the situation and it is easy to assign blame but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because Liverpool has been going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? 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.”