Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is owning up for the team’s slump.
The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.
“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes
Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.
“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “We are definitely failing the manager, 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 mess – that’s just a fact.
Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up
The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the dressing room to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, he replied: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”
Squad Investment and Broader Issues
Liverpool invested almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”
Appeal to Stick Together
The Dutchman added: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, 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. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.
“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 view, because this club has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”
Next Fixtures
Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. Van Dijk commented: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”
