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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of the club's woeful title defence, admitting the title holders are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration 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 latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with facts and the truth is we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “We are certainly letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection 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.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, he replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman added: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another opportunity so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”