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Van Dijk Blames Liverpool Players After Forest Defeat

Published

2 weeks ago

November 24, 2025

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says players are letting manager Arne Slot down following a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest

Liverpool, England, 24 November 2025 – Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has criticised his teammates for letting manager Arne Slot down after the Premier League champions suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

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The Reds have lost six of their last seven league games, sliding into the bottom half of the table despite a record £450 million summer investment in new players. Van Dijk admitted the team had failed to live up to expectations.

“We are definitely letting him down but we’ve let ourselves down as well,” Van Dijk said. “You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact. As the champions we can’t be in the situation we are in right now. What are we going to do about it? We’re going to try to turn it around and that’s the mentality everyone should have.”

None of Liverpool’s high-profile summer signings have yet to make a significant impact.

Alexander Isak, who joined for a British transfer record £125 million, is yet to score a league goal and struggled during a subdued 68-minute display against Forest.

Van Dijk called for accountability and cohesion among the squad, stressing the need to support each other during the slump.

“What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better,” he said.

He also emphasised resilience, reflecting on the team’s title-winning experience. “You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my eyes. This club has gone through much adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it.”

Liverpool’s European form has been stronger, with three wins from four Champions League fixtures.