Van Dijk Admits Squad is in a Mess, Challenges Players on Responsibility
Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.
Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.
Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses
The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.
“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing reality and the truth is we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated the defender. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.
Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up
Van Dijk usually speaks the press after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, he 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 have to do it 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 gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”
Call for Unity
Van Dijk added: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league 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 face the toughness and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been enduring numerous challenges over those years 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
Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. Van Dijk commented: “Wednesday is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”
