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

The Dutch defender could not contain his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss 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.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

The captain labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“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 free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a game as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked 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 players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult 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 improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. 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 excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. 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.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because this club has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”