Virgil van Dijk delivered a brutal assessment of Liverpool’s alarming slump after their 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, admitting the reigning champions are “a mess” and questioning whether all players are taking responsibility.
The loss left Liverpool in the bottom half of the table with a negative goal difference, marking their sixth defeat in seven Premier League games. Van Dijk said the team’s second-half performance was “unacceptable” and conceded that panic set in after Forest took the lead. He also highlighted Liverpool’s ongoing weakness at set pieces, having now conceded nine such goals in the league.
The captain admitted the squad is letting down new manager Arne Slot and called on teammates to be accountable. Speaking angrily in the tunnel after the match, he urged players to show leadership and intensity, saying basic standards like pressing as a unit are not being met.
Despite spending nearly £450m in the summer, Van Dijk said the problems go beyond new signings, insisting the entire team is responsible for the lack of consistency, defensive fragility and lost battles across the pitch.
He stressed the importance of unity during difficult periods and rejected the idea of blame culture, calling on players to “be a man and face the toughness”. Liverpool face PSV in the Champions League next before travelling to West Ham, with Van Dijk insisting the squad must respond immediately.
