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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt evaluation of the club's disappointing title defence, confessing the title holders are in a mess and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

The captain labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a productive build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “We are certainly letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a match as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the dressing room to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility to reverse the situation and tempting to point fingers but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and claimed the title and all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, 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 exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. He said: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”