Van Dijk Concedes Squad Faces Crisis, Challenges Teammates on Accountability

Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing assessment of the club's woeful championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration 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. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing reality and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “We are 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 mess because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the media after a match as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club invested almost £450m 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 new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk continued: “This season we don’t have 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 take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to assign blame but unity is essential. We have been through it together and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and go again, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because this club has been going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”