Liverpool's Captain Admits Squad is in a Mess, Questions Players on Responsibility
The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt evaluation of the club's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing head coach 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 bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, 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 “panic kicked 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 Premier League this season.
“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with facts and the truth is we conceded a set piece in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated the defender. “We are certainly letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection 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 just a fact.
Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up
The skipper typically addresses the media after a game as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the dressing room to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. That's crucial I want the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”
Squad Investment and Broader Issues
Liverpool invested almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the summer but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”
Call for Unity
The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.
“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because Liverpool has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”
Next Fixtures
The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I'll return and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”
