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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing evaluation of the club's disappointing title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start 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 the Forest player gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with reality and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated Van Dijk. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods 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 summer but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because this club has been enduring many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”