🔗 Share this article Liverpool's Captain Admits Squad Faces Crisis, Challenges Teammates on Responsibility Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing evaluation of the club's woeful title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and letting down head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn. Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone. “Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season. “We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing reality and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality. Captain’s Challenge: Step Up The skipper typically addresses the press after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, 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 squad to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, he answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing 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.” Squad Investment and Team Problems The Merseyside club invested almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.” Appeal to Stick Together The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we concede far too many goals, we are being out-fought 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 assign blame but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and during a challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers. “You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.” 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. He commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I'll return and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”