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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk 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. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “As a team, we're definitely failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection 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 the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any teammate in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing 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

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk 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. 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 it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the European competition. He said: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I'll return and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”