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Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing assessment of the club's disappointing title defence, admitting the title holders are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled 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 concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “As a team, we're certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the recent additions. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. 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 everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and claimed the title and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been enduring many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll return and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”