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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing evaluation of the club's woeful title defence, confessing the title holders are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether every player is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his frustration after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half 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 goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “We are definitely failing the manager, 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 mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether this is occurring, he answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. 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

Liverpool invested almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk continued: “This season we lack any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I hope everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame but unity is essential. We have been through it together and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been enduring many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. He commented: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”