🔗 Share this article

The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal 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 reality and the truth is we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” stated 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 help each other, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses 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 stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable 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. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation 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 tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been enduring many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged 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 Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I'll return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”