🔗 Share this article Van Dijk Concedes Squad Faces Crisis, Challenges Teammates on Accountability Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt assessment of the club's woeful title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn. Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone. “Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes The captain described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked 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 great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “We are certainly failing the manager, 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 moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact. Captain’s Challenge: Step Up Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, he replied: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.” Squad Investment and Broader Issues Liverpool invested almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.” Call for Unity Van Dijk continued: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. 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 avoid blaming others. “Show character and face the toughness and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool has been going through many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.” Next Fixtures Next up 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'll go home and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”