Liverpool's Captain Admits Team is in a Mess, Questions Teammates on Responsibility

Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said 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 help each other get out of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the media after a game as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was more forceful – so loud that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But it's essential. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we allow excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to accept duty to reverse the situation 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 during a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. He commented: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I'll return and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”