Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk delivered a brutally honest assessment of the team’s current crisis in an exclusive post-match statement, following a damaging 3–0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
It was another difficult evening for Arne Slot’s side as Liverpool fell behind through Murillo’s opener, before second-half strikes from Nicolo Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White sealed all three points for Forest. The result compounds a worrying slide in form, leaving Liverpool searching for answers after a string of sub-par performances.
Softfootball earlier understood that Van Dijk had taken full responsibility for the humiliating 3–0 loss to Manchester City, vowing the team would respond strongly. Instead, Liverpool produced another flat display, raising even more concern within the squad and fanbase.
According to the statement shared by Liverpool official X handle, Van Dijk began by responding to why things are not working at the moment, he said:
We concede too many easy goals. I think in the first half an hour we were good, created good opportunities. They scored obviously from a set-piece again; you can ask yourself if he was in front of Alisson, but it counted so you’re 1-0 down. I think overall we were just not good in terms of the battles, the challenges, the second-ball fight. Too rushed. It’s a very, very difficult situation at the moment. It was a tough day.
When asked if there is nervousness within the team, the Liverpool captain replied:
There is nervousness after we conceded but not during that particular moment. You sense that you want to rush things after we conceded, trying to find the equaliser as soon as possible. That’s human when you’re in a difficult moment. I don’t think there is nervousness before a set-piece, we cleared the ones before. In the end, obviously we’re just in a very, very difficult moment and we have to get out of this. But you don’t get out of it just by speaking about it. Like I’ve said many times, I’m obviously here speaking to you guys because I have to, I’d rather sort it out with my team on the pitch. That will take a lot of hard work by the looks of it.
Van Dijk then discussed how Liverpool must go about finding a solution, he stated :
It’s definitely a problem. I take responsibility. But I think everyone in the team, not only the starters but the guys around as well, have to take responsibility as well because football is a team game, we all do it together and we need everyone at their best. In order to win games, you have to take responsibility. That’s what I’ve mentioned as well. Now you have to digest this, take it on the chin and work harder. Obviously I’ve been saying it quite a lot already this season and it’s not been working out so far, but we have to keep going.
Speaking on the response within the dressing room, he added:
Obviously everyone is disappointed, like they should be, because losing at home against Nottingham Forest is, in my eyes, very bad. That’s the least I can say about it. Especially the second half, the goals we conceded [were] far too easy. It’s something we all have to look in the mirror and take responsibility for. I’ve been in this club for such a long time now, we have been through ups and downs already and we will bounce back. But these things don’t happen overnight, you have to work and do it together. It’s not a one-man show, it’s all together. Keep going. But the reality is we are in a very difficult moment and we all want to get out of that. I’m not a quitter, no-one should be, so I will keep going until the end.
Van Dijk also addressed the reaction from supporters, saying:
I can’t decide obviously what the supporters are doing. If they leave early, obviously I can understand the frustration fully. But I know the fans have been through thick and thin with us over all those years and that’s how Liverpool is. I’m pretty sure that they will always stick with us regardless. And when we come out of this – because we will come out of this – they will be there with us as well.
Liverpool will now attempt to regroup, with Slot expected to demand a strong response from a squad desperate to rediscover its identity. With results dipping and pressure rising, the Reds know their season’s direction depends on how quickly they can halt this decline.
