Van Dijk Admits Team is in a Mess, Questions Teammates on Responsibility

Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing assessment of the club's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

The captain described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth goal 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 game you are facing reality and the facts are we conceded a free-kick 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. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, 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

The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone 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.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” 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 make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league 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 face the toughness and go again, repeatedly 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 recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

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 European competition. He commented: “Wednesday is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”