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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt evaluation of the club's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds 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 sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

The captain described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” 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 help each other, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk usually speaks the press after a match as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, he answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent 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 insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “This season we lack any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to point fingers but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and during a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“Show character and face the toughness and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity 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

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: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to return and try to think how we can improve results and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”