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The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the title holders are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk 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. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that began the match 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 Murillo gave the visitors the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession 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 fixture you are facing reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection 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.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a game as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent 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 problems extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. We have to do that in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk added: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. 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 avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “Wednesday is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”