🔗 Share this article

The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing assessment of the club's woeful championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo 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.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing reality and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated the defender. “As a team, we're certainly letting him down, 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 present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a match as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital 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 everyone was part of it, and during 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 if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because Liverpool has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk commented: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I'll go home and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”