Liverpool's Premier League title defence lies in ruins after a shocking 3-0 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest at Anfield, plunging the club into a full-blown crisis. The loss marks a staggering sixth defeat in their last seven league matches, with the visiting Forest side, who had not won away from home all season, thoroughly outplaying the reigning champions.
A Competition in Responsibility
In the aftermath of the humbling defeat, Liverpool's key figures emerged to face the music, engaging in what appeared to be a contest to shoulder the blame. Captain Virgil van Dijk was first to address the team's collapse, stating that every player must accept responsibility. "We have to digest this and take it on the chin. We need to work harder. We have to keep going," the Dutch defender said, highlighting that the basics were missing as Forest "physically won so many battles against us."
Manager Arne Slot followed, directly accepting his portion of the fault. "If things go well or things go bad, it's my responsibility," the under-fire boss admitted. He conceded that his tactical adjustments failed to spark a comeback, leaving his side "unable to score a goal."
Where the Blame Truly Lies
The post-match comments reveal a club searching for answers. Van Dijk later expanded in a separate interview, making the startling admission that the players are "definitely letting him [Slot] down" but are also failing themselves. He described the current situation starkly as "a mess" that the reigning champions should not be in.
An analysis of the performance suggests the truth lies somewhere between the manager's tactics and the players' execution. Slot deserves scrutiny for several key decisions from the match. He chose to start Alexander Isak, the £125 million signing, over Hugo Ekitike, yet the striker remained a peripheral figure. Furthermore, he continues to deploy the dynamic Dominik Szoboszlai out of position at right-back instead of trusting Joe Gomez, and opted for Milos Kerkez over Andy Robertson at left-back.
Conversely, Van Dijk's criticisms hold weight. The captain pointed to a lack of cohesive pressing and fundamental errors, acknowledging his own defensive partnership with Ibrahima Konate is struggling. His call for the squad to stick together and not point fingers echoes a team meeting held a month prior after the defeat to Manchester United.
A Long Road Ahead for the Reds
With the Premier League schedule offering little respite, Liverpool's problems are urgent. Slot must find a way to integrate his expensive signings effectively and solve the tactical puzzle that is hindering his squad. For the players, led by Van Dijk, the challenge is to rediscover the fight and unity that made them champions.
Taking responsibility in front of the cameras is the easy part. The much harder task of fixing the deep-rooted issues at Anfield begins now, with the club's season threatening to spiral completely out of control.
