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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing evaluation of the club's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the truth is we gave away a free-kick in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a match as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was more forceful – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, he replied: “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 Broader Issues

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the summer but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and claimed the title and all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean 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 Sunday, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. He commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I'll return and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”