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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing assessment of the club's disappointing title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender 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 Premier League table 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 eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that began the match 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 “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with reality and the truth is we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “We are definitely letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the media after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, he replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to strengthen 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 insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and all contributed, and during a tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“Show character 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 numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s exhausting 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 Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. He said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”