Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk appeared to call out his teammates for their performance in the Reds’ 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest.
Goals from Murillo, Nicolo Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White ensured Forest left Anfield with all three points for a second year running as Liverpool slumped to their sixth loss in just seven matches.
Despite Alexander Isak, Mohamed Salahand Alisson, who was back from injury, all starting the match, Arne Slot’s side could not make their dominance of the ball pay against Sean Dyche’s efficient outfit.
The loss means Liverpool drop to 11th, having won six and lost six of their Premier League games this term, while Forest moved up to 16th with their third win of the campaign.
The defeat also means Liverpool have lost back-to-back league games by a margin of three or more goals for the first time since 1965.
Slot’s side have also conceded 20 goals in 12 league games for the first time since 1992, while also suffering their joint-heaviest defeat at Anfield in Premier League history.
Liverpool were left stunned (Credit:Getty)
So, what is going wrong and what needs to change?
Following his side’s lacklustre showing, captain Van Dijk spoke to Premier League Productions and claimed that Liverpool were not good enough in terms of “battles, challenges [and] the fight” before describing their play as “rushed”.
The Dutchman then continued and admitted that the team need to “work harder” and that their current form is a “problem”.
“Everyone in the team has to take responsibility as well,” Van Dijk said.
“Football is a team and everyone has to take responsibility. We have to digest this and take it on the chin. We need to work harder. We have to keep going.
“Everyone is disappointed, like they should be, because losing at home to Nottingham Forest is, in my eyes, very bad. That’s the least I can say about it. Those goals we conceded are far too easy, and we all have to look in the mirror. I’ve been at this club so long now, and we’ve been through adversity. We will bounce back, but it doesn’t happen overnight. I’m not a quitter, and we will keep going.”
The defender then spoke about how some Liverpool fans headed to the exits early, having seemingly seen enough after Forest’s third went in.
Van Dijk added: “I can’t decide what the supporters are doing if they leave early. I know the fans have been through thick and thin with us. They will be there with us when we come out of this because we will come out of this.”
Liverpool return to action at home against PSV in the Champions League on November 26 before they travel to West Ham on November 30.