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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“There was a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with reality and the truth is we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated 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 the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was more forceful – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, he replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. He commented: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? 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.”