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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool's woeful title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

The captain described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked 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 build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing facts and the facts are we gave away 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 letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a match as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “This season we lack any steady form, we concede far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and it is easy to assign blame but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I’m going to return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”