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

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

The captain described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a game you are facing facts and the truth is we conceded a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “We are certainly letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to respond. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, he replied: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. That's crucial I want the boys to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

Liverpool invested almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the recent additions. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk added: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to assign blame but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been going through many adversity 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 Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. He said: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”