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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt assessment of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his frustration after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the lead. 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 facts and the truth is we gave away a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're certainly letting him down, 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 mess because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the media after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether this is occurring, he answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool invested almost £450 million to strengthen a championship-winning team in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility 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 all contributed, and during a tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“Show character and face the toughness and go again, again and again because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He commented: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I'll return and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”