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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt assessment of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders 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 could not contain his anger after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

The captain labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” 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 conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing reality and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated the defender. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. His voice was much louder – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, he replied: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the boys to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to strengthen a championship-winning team in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we allow 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 claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and face the toughness 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 going through many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out 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, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”