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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth concession 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 facing facts and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, he replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk continued: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness 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 going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”