🔗 Share this article

The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat 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 in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo 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 build-up to the match but in a game you are facing reality and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “We are certainly letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the press after a game as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the summer but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we allow excessive scores, 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 tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because Liverpool has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can improve results and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”