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Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing evaluation of the club's woeful title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the team’s slump.

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 lower section of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a great build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “As a team, we're definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves 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 mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper usually speaks the media after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, he answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the summer but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “This season we lack any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. He commented: “The next game is another opportunity so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”