Virgil van Dijk has criticised Liverpool’s dramatic slump, admitting the Premier League champions are “in a mess” and questioning whether his teammates are fully taking responsibility for the team’s poor form.
The Liverpool captain was visibly furious after the 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest, a result that left the club in the bottom half of the table with a negative goal difference. The defeat was their sixth in seven league games and eighth in 11 matches across all competitions.
Van Dijk described the team’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and said “panic kicked in” after Forest took the lead. He also highlighted ongoing problems defending set pieces, with Liverpool conceding their ninth such goal in the league this season.
He admitted the players are letting down new manager Arne Slot and called for greater accountability within the squad. While stopping short of naming individuals, he questioned whether everyone was doing enough, stressing that players must take responsibility during difficult moments.
Despite spending nearly £450 million in the summer, Van Dijk said the problems go beyond new signings and pointed to a lack of consistency, poor pressing and lost physical battles as key issues.
He urged the squad to remain united rather than point fingers, warning that anyone unwilling to fight through adversity is at the wrong club. Liverpool face PSV in midweek before a league trip to West Ham, and Van Dijk insisted he would focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on the defeat.
