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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt evaluation of the club's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in a mess and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled 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 allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture 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 the defender. “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 just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk usually speaks the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, he answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the boys to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad 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 issues extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “This season we don’t have 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. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and claimed the title and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. He commented: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can improve results and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”