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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt evaluation of the club's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds 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 sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. The first goal was the ninth goal 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 facts and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper typically addresses the media after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “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 have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and all contributed, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting 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 Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. He said: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I'll go home and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”