🔗 Share this article

Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing assessment 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 owning up for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his anger 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. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that began the match 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 Sean Dyche’s team the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing facts and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves 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

The skipper typically addresses the media after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect 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 £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable 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 effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I hope everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and during a challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because this club has been going through many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the Premier 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: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I'll go home and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”