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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of the club's woeful title defence, confessing the title holders are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender could not contain his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the truth is we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “As a team, we're definitely 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 mess because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper typically addresses the press after a match as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was more forceful – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy 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 have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to return and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”