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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt assessment of the club's disappointing title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” 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 allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're certainly letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we concede far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, and during a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship 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. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. Van Dijk commented: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can improve results and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”