Van Dijk Calls for Accountability as Liverpool Collapse Again
Liverpool’s troubling slide took another sharp downturn at Anfield as Nottingham Forest produced a ruthless 3–0 victory that exposed fragilities long visible but rarely punished to this extent. For Virgil van Dijk, the defeat was not simply damaging — it was symptomatic of deeper issues that continue to undermine the champions’ season.
Van Dijk’s Stark Assessment of Liverpool’s Failings
Liverpool started with control and intent, but once Murillo drove in Forest’s opener from a corner, the brittle edges of Arne Slot’s side reappeared. Van Dijk, speaking after the match, stressed that Liverpool “concede too many easy goals”, a flaw that has repeatedly cost them in recent weeks.
The Dutch defender highlighted the persistent struggles with set-piece organisation, noting that the opener once again arrived from a dead-ball situation. He referenced the presence of Dan Ndoye in front of Alisson but accepted that any potential interference was irrelevant: “It counted, so we’re 1–0 down.”
Forest briefly thought they had doubled their lead, only for Igor Jesus to be penalised for handball, but that moment of reprieve made no lasting difference. Within a minute of the restart, Liverpool conceded again, and the third arrived late on from a second-phase effort — further evidence of a side unable to manage basic defensive moments.
“We were not good in terms of battles, challenges, the fight — too rushed,” Van Dijk said. “It’s a very difficult situation at the moment.”
The defender admitted nerves set in after the first goal: “We tried to rush things and that’s human when you’re in a difficult moment. It’s a problem. Everyone in the team has to take responsibility.”
Heavy Defeat Sparks Anfield Anxiety
Liverpool have now lost six of their last seven league matches — as many as in their previous 58 — and Van Dijk acknowledged the scale of the concern: “Losing at home to Nottingham Forest is, in my eyes, very bad — that’s the least I can say.”
Forest had beaten Liverpool at Anfield last season, but this 3–0 result represented their biggest-ever win at the stadium and Liverpool’s heaviest home defeat since 2021. Supporters left early, though Van Dijk refused to judge the reaction: “They’ve been through thick and thin with us… they will be there when we come out of this.”
Alisson returned after a hamstring layoff but could not stem the momentum once Forest seized control. The defensive unravelling left Liverpool facing uncomfortable questions about both structure and mentality.
Slot Demands Reaction Ahead of Champions League Test
Arne Slot accepted the criticism, describing the performance and result as “very, very, very bad”, particularly given the home setting and the scale of the scoreline. He insisted it fell well below the club’s standards but stressed the need to reset quickly with Champions League football returning midweek.
Slot was frank about the turning point: “We conceded a set piece, and that changed the momentum and the game completely.” He added that his adjustments did not have the impact he intended: “A big disappointment. When things go well, when things don’t go well, it is always my responsibility.”
Forest’s disciplined shape and sharp counter-attacks highlighted Liverpool’s lack of composure and clarity, especially after falling behind. The challenge for Slot now is to find both solutions and confidence in a squad whose early-season rhythm has evaporated.
Tough Road Ahead as Leadership Tested
Liverpool’s captain remains adamant that the group will respond: “We will bounce back but it doesn’t happen overnight. I’m not a quitter.” But the urgency is real — from mismanaged set pieces to frailties in transition, Liverpool’s problems require more than encouragement.
The champions’ campaign now sits at a crossroads, with Forest’s emphatic victory serving as a stark reminder that reputations provide no protection when the fundamentals fail.
