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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the title holders are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a great build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with 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 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 help each other get out of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the press after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether this is occurring, he answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings 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 everyone to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and all contributed, and during a tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because this club has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I'll go home and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”