Liverpool's Captain Admits Squad Faces Crisis, Questions Players on Accountability

The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility 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 saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that began the match in the drop 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 Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the media after a match as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the dressing room to respond. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450m to replenish a title-winning squad 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 extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, 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 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 tiring but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. He commented: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I'll go home and try to think how we can improve results and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”