🔗 Share this article

The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt assessment of Liverpool's disappointing title defence, admitting the title holders are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing reality and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I want the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, 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

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we concede far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly 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. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. He commented: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can improve results and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”