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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt assessment of the club's woeful title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration 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. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

The captain labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“There was a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing facts and the truth is we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper typically addresses the media after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to replenish 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 maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman added: “This season we lack any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. We have to accept duty 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 during a challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because Liverpool has been going through 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 no other way.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match 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 said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I'll return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”