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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt assessment of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger 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 seven league games, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a great build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing reality and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a poor concession 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. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, 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 role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke 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 main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “This season we lack any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been going through numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I'll go home and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”