🔗 Share this article

Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing assessment of Liverpool's disappointing title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you help each other get out 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 media after a game as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But it's essential. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million 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 new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“Show character and face the toughness and go again, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons 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.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. He commented: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I'll return and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”