The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is owning up for the team’s slump.
Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone.
“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses
The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.
“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with facts and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.
Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility
The skipper typically addresses the press after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. That's crucial I want the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”
Squad Investment and Broader Issues
Liverpool spent almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”
Appeal to Stick Together
Van Dijk added: “This season we lack any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to reverse the situation and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.
“Show character and face the toughness and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because this club has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”
Looking Ahead
Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. He said: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”
