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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, 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 “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“We had a productive build-up to the match but in a game you are facing facts and the truth is we gave away a set piece in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “We are certainly letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper usually speaks the media after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, he answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust this is recognized. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because this club has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I’m going to return and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”