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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration 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. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “As a team, we're certainly letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to strengthen a championship-winning team in the summer but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “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 this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and during a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, 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 easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He commented: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”