🔗 Share this article

The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half 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 Sean Dyche’s team the lead. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a game you are facing reality and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated the defender. “We are definitely letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the press after a game as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was more forceful – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, he replied: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. That's crucial I want the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the summer but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want 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. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk added: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. 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 everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because this club has been going through many adversity 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 no other way.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. He said: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I'll return and try to think how we can improve results and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”