🔗 Share this article

Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing evaluation of the club's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting 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 Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth concession 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 facing reality and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “We are definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves 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 difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the press after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “This season we lack any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, 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, 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 many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the European competition. He said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I'll go home and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”