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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt assessment of the club'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 current downturn.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, 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 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 advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the truth is we conceded a set piece in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely 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

The skipper typically addresses the media after a game as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, he answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season 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 difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility 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 claimed the title and all contributed, and when you go through a challenging phase you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over recent seasons 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 Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”