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The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt assessment of the club's woeful championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section 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 seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described 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 advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“There was a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing facts and the truth is we gave away a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “As a team, we're certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down 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 just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

The skipper usually speaks the media after a match as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. That's crucial I want the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past 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. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to accept duty to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and during a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“Show character and face the toughness and go again, again and again because if you want to give up 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 easy, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. He commented: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”