The Reds’ Premier League title defense continues to stutter following their most recent defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool now languishes in 11th place after the Sean Dyche-led outfit visited Anfield and ran home with all three points after scoring three reply goals.
Arne Slot’s methods are growing increasingly unpopular among the fans, who fear a return to the days of irrelevancy from the late 2000s up until the mid-2010s, before Jürgen Klopp came and transformed their entire football structure.
Speaking after their latest setback, Virgil Van Dijk said, “We concede too many easy goals.
“I think in the first half 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, and the second-ball fight. Too rushed. It’s a very, very difficult situation at the moment. It was a tough day.
“There was 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 equalizer 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.”
Then he took responsibility as the team’s captain while providing an insight into how the team feels and how they could respond going forward.
“It’s definitely a problem,” he started. “I take responsibility. But I think everyone in the team, not only the starters but the guys around as well, has 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.
“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.”
