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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of the club's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after the weekend'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 negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, 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 “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. The first goal was the ninth goal 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 game you are dealing with reality and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this mess because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, 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. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I want the boys to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool invested 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. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation 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 all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. He said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll return and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”