Liverpool slumped to a sixth Premier League defeat of the season and Reds skipper Virgil van Dijk pulled no punches in his assessment of a title defence that is collapsing dramatically
Virgil van Dijk points at a team-mate
Virgil van Dijk has called on his team-mates to take 'collective responsibility' after the loss to Nottingham Forest
View 4 Images
Unacceptable. Tough to take. Panic. Angry. A mess. Losing battles. Basic things. Not the words of a pundit who sees only a crisis in a string of bad results, not the words of a supporter who thinks his elite side is not allowed to lose at home, no matter how accomplished the opponents’ performance.
No, the words of Liverpool’s captain, the team’s leader, the players’ representative, the club’s figurehead on the field. In his initial televised response to the loss to Nottingham Forest, Virgil van Dijk was suitably critical of his side’s performance.
Later, he suggested a deeper malaise had set into the Premier League champions. No names were named but the accusation was clear. Some - or all - are not pulling their weight. Attitudes need to be examined.
“At the moment it is a mess - that is just a fact,” said Van Dijk. “We are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I hope everyone sees that. You should be angry.
“When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. It's basic things but it's not happening enough. You have to be mentally strong and keep going. But we didn't do that.”
The ‘losing battles’ theme was one that Van Dijk touched on more than once. He said: “Forest were physically winning so many battles against us.”
Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 22, 2025.
Arne Slot is under pressure after Liverpool slumped to a sixth Premier League defeat of the season
View 4 Images
He was at pains to stress it was a collective fault but his words will resonate with the Anfield masses who loudly bemoaned Cody Gakpo meekly losing a 50-50 confrontation in the first half. It would be very harsh to single out Gakpo for criticism but that incident typified the physical and mental weakness that streaked through this Liverpool performance.
Forest were tougher, all over the pitch. Simple as that. And all this unfolded under the watching eyes of Liverpool chairman Tom Werner.
“The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility,” Van Dijk went on. “In terms of letting him (the manager) down we are definitely letting him down but we have let ourselves down as well.
“You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this mess. As the champions, we can't be in the situation we are in right now but it's a fact.
Cody Gakpo in action
Cody Gakpo came in for some criticism from sections of the Anfield crowd
View 4 Images
"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.
“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. This club has gone through much adversity over the years and we've always come out of it. But it doesn't mean it is easy - it's tiring but there is no other way.
“What am I going to do? Go home and cry? No, I'm going to go home and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”
Murillo celebrates his goal
Murillo opened the scoring for Nottingham Forest at Anfield and Sean Dyche's side never looked back
View 4 Images
After Murillo had opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, Liverpool simply folded. Arne Slot's side conceded a second to Nicolo Savona soon after the break and a third to Morgan Gibbs-White to give Sean Dyche’s side a victory margin that was far from flattering.
Van Dijk said: “We conceded and panic kicks in. As a team, you have to try to stay calm and do the right things. But we didn't do that and that's hard to accept. And the way we started the second half was just unacceptable.
“Overall, it was a very disappointing afternoon. It's the reality. I'm not a quitter. I will never quit. I will keep going but it doesn't mean it isn't tough to take.”
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
Content Image