🔗 Share this article Liverpool's Captain Admits Squad Faces Crisis, Challenges Teammates on Responsibility Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt assessment of the club's woeful championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in a mess and letting down head coach Slot while doubting whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump. The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone. “Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign. “We had a productive build-up to the match but in a game you are facing reality and the truth is we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first 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 just a fact. Captain’s Challenge: Step Up The skipper typically addresses the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, he answered: “It's unclear. 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 want to get out of this.” Summer Signings and Broader Issues The Merseyside club invested almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.” Call for Unity Van Dijk added: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others. “You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.” Looking Ahead Next up 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: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”