🔗 Share this article Van Dijk Concedes Team is in a Mess, Challenges Players on Responsibility Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump. Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone. “Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season. “There was a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing facts and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” stated the defender. “We are certainly letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality. Captain’s Challenge: Step Up The skipper usually speaks the press after a match as part of his role 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 expressed visible fury while urging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the boys to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.” Squad Investment and Team Problems Liverpool spent almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.” Appeal to Stick Together The Dutchman continued: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, 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 in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is no other way.” Looking Ahead Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. He commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to return and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”