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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt assessment of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss 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

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with reality and the truth is we gave away a set piece in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “We are definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the press after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the summer but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary 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 they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk added: “This season we lack any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and it is easy to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title 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, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He commented: “Wednesday 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 what everyone is doing as well.”