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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's woeful title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing facts and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're certainly failing the manager, 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 crisis because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we allow excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have 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 tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “Wednesday is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”