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The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt assessment of the club's woeful championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with facts and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “As a team, we're definitely failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this mess because at the present time it is a difficult situation – 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 – so loud that any teammate in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. 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 Broader Issues

The Merseyside club invested almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation 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 effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place 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 only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. He commented: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to return and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”