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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing evaluation of the club's disappointing title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

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 advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with reality and the truth is we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're certainly letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, he answered: “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 must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to replenish 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 difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. We have to do that in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we concede far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to point fingers but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because this club has been enduring many adversity over those years 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

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to return and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”