Virgil van Dijk launched a fierce public critique of Liverpool’s performances after their 3–0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, admitting the reigning champions are “in a mess” and questioning whether his teammates are taking enough responsibility.
The loss, Liverpool’s sixth in seven Premier League matches, left them in the bottom half of the table with a negative goal difference. Van Dijk said the team’s collapse after half-time was “unacceptable” and revealed that “panic kicked in” after Forest’s opener. He also highlighted Liverpool’s struggles at set pieces, having now conceded nine league goals from dead-ball situations.
The Liverpool captain said the team are letting manager Arne Slot down and called on every player to look at themselves first. He was visibly angry in the post-match tunnel, raising his voice and demanding a stronger response from the dressing room.
Van Dijk criticised a lack of basic standards such as coordinated pressing and insisted the club’s problems go beyond expensive summer signings, including Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, all of whom have yet to make a real impact.
He stressed that pointing fingers will not solve anything and urged the squad to stick together, accept responsibility and fight their way out of the slump. With Champions League and Premier League fixtures coming up against PSV and West Ham, Van Dijk said the only option is to face the situation head-on and respond on the pitch rather than dwell on disappointment.
