A complicated narrative of accountability has emerged at Anfield following Liverpool’s crushing 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, with captain Virgil van Dijk and supervisor Arne Slott publicly at odds over who’s responsible for the membership’s deepening disaster.
The Reds’ 2025/26 season ended on Saturday with their sixth loss in seven Premier League video games, their lowest file ever, and so they dropped to eleventh within the desk.
The ambiance at Anfield was somber when Forest beat Liverpool, however the response after the sport raised much more eyebrows.
Deviating from the same old united entrance, there was a transparent disconnect within the post-match interviews, with each captain and supervisor making an attempt to defend their opponents by claiming full accountability for the “chaos” the membership was in.
Usually a present of solidarity, the contradictory statements spotlight the confusion gripping the membership in the mean time, with neither the crew nor the teaching workers in a position to pinpoint precisely why the title-defending facet have collapsed so spectacularly.
Supervisor Van Dijk insists the accountability lies with the gamers
Instantly after the humiliation at Anfield, a clearly annoyed Virgil van Dijk refused to let his supervisor take the autumn, chatting with the press.
The Dutch defender, who was a part of the backline that crumbled underneath Forest’s counterattack, insisted it was not the tactical setup that was the problem, however somewhat the crew’s software and aspirations.
He mentioned (through Liverpool Echo): “We conceded too many straightforward targets. In addition they clearly scored from set-pieces. You’ll be able to ask if he was in entrance of Alisson, however it counted, so we’re 1-0 down. We weren’t good when it comes to battle, problem and battle. We rushed an excessive amount of. It is a very troublesome state of affairs in the mean time.”
“We had been nervous after we conceded the objective, however not earlier than we conceded. We tried to rush issues up, however that is how you’re as an individual whenever you’re in a troublesome state of affairs. We have cleared the earlier recreation and in the long run we’re in a really troublesome state of affairs. You’ll be able to’t get out of this case simply by speaking. It may take a whole lot of effort. There was rigidity after we conceded.”
“That is an issue. Everybody within the crew has to take accountability as nicely. Soccer is a crew and everybody has to take accountability. We now have to digest this and take it on the chin. We now have to strive more durable. We now have to maintain transferring ahead.”
“Everyone seems to be dissatisfied, and rightly so, as a result of shedding at house to Nottingham Forest was a really poor lead to my eyes, so that is the least I can say about it.”
Slott claims he’s liable for the loss.
Nonetheless, Arne Slott contradicted his captain’s evaluation throughout a media task, saying the burden rested squarely on his shoulders.
Slott advised the BBC: “If issues go nicely or badly, it is as much as me. I did not create sufficient. I attempted to regulate some issues, however it did not work. I could not rating targets. You by no means know on this stadium. Typically when you rating targets, issues go nicely.”
Slott dismissed recommendations that his crew lacked high quality or effort, insisting the defeat was as a consequence of an incapability to search out the best changes. “I attempted to regulate some issues, however it did not work. I could not make sufficient. It is as much as me to discover a answer.”
Because of the looming risk of dismissal, he might be given a slot till the brand new yr.
Slott is prepared to take accountability, however Anfield bosses could quickly decide on his behalf.
In keeping with a dependable supply, Liverpool’s leaders have their full assist for Slott for now, however the Dutchman wants to show issues round by the brand new yr or FSG is not going to hesitate to make a daring determination.
Liverpool’s upcoming matches till the brand new yr:
- Liverpool vs PSV
- west ham vs liverpool
- Liverpool vs Sunderland
- Leeds vs Liverpool
- Inter Milan vs Liverpool
- liverpool vs brighton
- tottenham vs liverpool
- Liverpool vs Wolves
