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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt assessment of Liverpool's disappointing title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

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

“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing facts and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “As a team, we're definitely 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 mess because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the press after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the dressing room to respond. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable 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: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and during a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because this club has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll return and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”