Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt assessment of the club's woeful title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the team’s slump.
The Dutch defender could not contain his anger after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.
Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses
The captain labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set 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.
“We had a productive build-up to the match but in a game 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 Van Dijk. “As a team, we're 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 moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.
Captain’s Challenge: Step Up
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 much louder – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to respond. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times 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 title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult 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 make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”
Call for Unity
The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and tempting 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 must remain united and not point fingers.
“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because this club has been going through many adversity over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”
Next Fixtures
The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”
