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Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing evaluation of the club's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

The captain described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “We are definitely letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the press after a match as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, he answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club invested almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone 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 lack any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and during a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because this club has been going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. He said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I'll go home and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”