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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool's disappointing title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after the weekend'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 observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

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

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with facts and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated the defender. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves 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.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a match as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. That's crucial I want the players 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

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough 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. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. We have to accept duty to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. 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.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been enduring many adversity over those years 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.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk commented: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I’m going to return and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”