🔗 Share this article

Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the truth is we conceded a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the media after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been going through many adversity over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I'll go home and analyze how we can improve results and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”