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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt assessment of the club's woeful title defence, confessing the title holders are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while doubting whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk 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 top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a game you are facing reality and the truth is we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “As a team, we're definitely letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: 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 more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to respond. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, he replied: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

Liverpool invested almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve always come out 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 domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”