Van Dijk's Angry Outburst After Anfield Humiliation
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has issued a blistering call for responsibility from everyone at the club following a disastrous 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest. The loss marks Liverpool's sixth defeat in their last seven Premier League games at Anfield, a staggering collapse for the former champions.
The Dutch defender could not contain his visible anger after the final whistle, his voice echoing through the Anfield tunnel as he delivered a stark message to his teammates. Van Dijk admitted that the team is in a mess and accused the squad of letting down their new manager, Arne Slot.
A Performance That Unravelled
The defeat was particularly humiliating given that Forest started the day in the Premier League's relegation zone. Club chairman Tom Werner was present to witness the latest dismal display, which leaves Liverpool languishing in the bottom half of the table with a negative goal difference.
Van Dijk pinpointed the start of the second half as unacceptable, revealing that panic kicked in as soon as Murillo scored for Sean Dyche's team. This goal was the ninth that Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season, highlighting a major defensive flaw.
We had a great three or four days preparation but in a game you are dealing with facts, stated an exasperated Van Dijk. The facts are we conceded a set-piece in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half.
Letting Down Themselves and the Manager
The captain was unequivocal in his assessment of the collective failure. We are definitely letting him [Slot] down, but we've let ourselves down as well, he admitted. You look at yourself first and then you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that's just a fact.
Despite a summer spend of almost £450 million to refresh a title-winning squad, including high-profile signings like the £125 million British-record acquisition Alexander Isak, the team has regressed dramatically. Van Dijk, however, insisted the problems run deeper than the new recruits, pointing to a lack of basic execution and consistency.
What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch, he demanded. We have to do that in order to push each other. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. It's basic things but it's not happening enough.
He challenged every player to be a man and face the adversity, emphasising that there is no alternative but to fight through the difficult period. With a Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven on the horizon, Van Dijk's message was clear: the time for excuses is over, and the responsibility for a turnaround lies with the entire dressing room.
