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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's woeful title defence, confessing the title holders are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start 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 the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with facts and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “We are 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 mess because at the present time it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a game as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate 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 main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we allow excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and face the toughness and go again, repeatedly 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 recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. He said: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”