Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt verdict on Liverpool’s struggles, admitting the champions are “in a mess” and questioning whether his teammates are taking enough responsibility for their alarming slump.
Speaking after a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, Van Dijk said the team had let down manager Arne Slot and themselves. The loss left Liverpool in the bottom half of the table with a negative goal difference, marking their sixth defeat in seven Premier League matches.
The Liverpool captain described the team’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted panic set in after Forest took the lead. He expressed visible anger in the post-match tunnel, calling on the squad to respond and take collective responsibility.
Van Dijk said Liverpool’s problems are not limited to new signings, despite the club spending close to £450m in the summer. He stressed that basic standards, such as pressing as a unit and winning individual battles, have not been met.
He also warned against finger-pointing, insisting the squad must stick together and fight their way out of the situation. “If you want to give up, you are at the wrong place,” he said, urging players to show character and resilience.
Liverpool face PSV in the Champions League next before a Premier League trip to West Ham, and Van Dijk made clear he expects a response rather than self-pity.
