Van Dijk Admits Squad is in a Mess, Challenges Players on Responsibility
The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt assessment of the club's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.
Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by 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 present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.
Poor Second Half 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 advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.
“There was a great build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing reality and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this mess because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.
Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility
Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the boys to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”
Summer Signings and Team Problems
Liverpool spent almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”
Appeal to Stick Together
Van Dijk added: “This season we lack any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and during a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.
“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”
Next Fixtures
Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”