Van Dijk Concedes Squad Faces Crisis, Questions Teammates on Responsibility
The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in a mess and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the current downturn.
The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.
“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses
The captain labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.
“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing reality and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're certainly letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that’s just a fact.
Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up
The skipper usually speaks the media after a game as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad 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 it's essential. 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.”
Summer Signings and Team Problems
The Merseyside club invested almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”
Appeal to Stick Together
The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we concede far too many goals, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you must remain united and avoid blaming others.
“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been enduring many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”
Next Fixtures
The upcoming match in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I'll return and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”