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The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his frustration 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. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a great build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the truth is we gave away a free-kick in the first half and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated Van Dijk. “We are definitely letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this mess because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a match as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals 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 far too many goals, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I hope everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and during a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because Liverpool has been going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”