Van Dijk Concedes Team Faces Crisis, Questions Players on Responsibility
Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.
Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.
“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes
Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo 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.
“There was a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing facts and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.
Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up
The skipper typically addresses the press after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, he replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover 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 gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”
Appeal to Stick Together
The Dutchman continued: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we allow far too many goals, 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 it is easy to point fingers 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 avoid blaming others.
“Show character and face the toughness and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over those years 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
The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. He said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I'll return and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”