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Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing evaluation of the club's woeful championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing facts and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a game as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, he answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk continued: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and during a challenging phase you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been going through many adversity over recent seasons 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.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic 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, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”