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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in a mess and letting down manager Arne Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“There was a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing facts and the truth is we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated Van Dijk. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a match as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud 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 emphasized. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, he replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “This season we lack any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. He commented: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I'll go home and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”