Van Dijk Admits Team Faces Crisis, Questions Teammates on Responsibility
Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the current downturn.
Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the drop zone.
Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes
Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors 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 poor concession at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “As a team, we're 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 difficult situation – that's the reality.
Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility
Van Dijk usually speaks the press after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, he replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”
Squad Investment and Broader Issues
Liverpool spent almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”
Appeal to Stick Together
The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we concede far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.
“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 eyes, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”
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 European competition. He commented: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”