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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the title holders are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his anger after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“There was a great build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “We are certainly letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, 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 usually speaks the press after a match as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the dressing room to respond. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial 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 Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450 million to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to accept duty to turn this around and it is easy to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, again and again because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, 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 tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to return and analyze how we can improve results and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”