Van Dijk Concedes Squad Faces Crisis, Challenges Teammates on Responsibility
The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's disappointing title defence, confessing the title holders are in a mess and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the current downturn.
The Dutch defender could not contain his anger after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.
“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses
The captain described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.
“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “We are definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality.
Captain’s Challenge: Step Up
Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a match as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point 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. It’s the main thing I want the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we want to get out of this.”
Squad Investment and Broader Issues
Liverpool invested almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the off-season but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals 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 everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and claimed the title and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.
“Show character and face the toughness and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”
Looking Ahead
The upcoming match in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to return and try to think how we can improve results and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”