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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt assessment of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a productive build-up to the match but in a game you are facing facts and the truth is we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a match as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, he answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

Liverpool invested almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term 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 trust everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league 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 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 Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, 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 the Dutch side in the European competition. He commented: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll go home and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”