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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt evaluation of the club's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing facts and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that each individual 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 want the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. We have to do that in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy 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 must remain united and not point fingers.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, 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 straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to return and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”