Van Dijk Admits Squad is in a Mess, Challenges Teammates on Accountability
Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the current downturn.
Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat 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 observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the drop zone.
Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes
The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.
“There was a great build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with facts and the truth is we conceded a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves 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.
Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up
The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, he replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the players 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 Broader Issues
The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to strengthen a championship-winning team in the summer but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”
Call for Unity
Van Dijk added: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to assign blame but unity is essential. 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 avoid blaming others.
“Show character and face the toughness and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been enduring many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”
Next Fixtures
Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. He commented: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I'll go home and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”