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Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing assessment of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning 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 Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener 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 game you are facing reality and the truth is 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 help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment 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. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I want the boys to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we must act 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 go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. We have to do that 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 it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought 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 you have to do it together. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to return and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”