We are letting Arne Slot down, admits Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk

Captain Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool’s players are letting down boss Arne Slot with their recent performances.

The 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday was the Reds’ sixth in seven Premier League games and they ended the weekend in 12th place in the table.

Slot himself described their stunning downturn in form as “ridiculous” and “unbelievable” yesterday with the pressure starting to mount on the Dutchman, despite his achievement in leading Liverpool to the title in his first season in charge at Anfield.

PSV test next up for Liverpool

Liverpool host PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League tonight and, writing in his programme notes, Van Dijk admitted it was on the players to turn the situation around.

He said: “It goes without saying that we need to show a reaction this evening.

“Saturday’s defeat by Nottingham Forest was bad, a really tough day for us all, and the position we find ourselves in right now is not acceptable.

“Everyone has to step up and take responsibility, and show that they have the desire and the character to turn things around. At the moment, we are letting ourselves down, letting the manager down and letting you guys down, and we know that has to change.”

Van Dijk was vocal after the weekend setback, questioning his team-mates’ desire, and reiterated that hard work was the only way to emerge from their current funk.

He added: “It is on us to make that change, nobody else. We can talk about what’s going wrong and what we need to do, but it’s about actions, not words.

“Each and every one of us has to first look in the mirror and then, as a team, we have to come together to show that we are better than this, stronger than this.

“It all starts with the basics; hard work, a willingness to fight for every first ball, every second ball, to compete in every duel, to block shots and win challenges. We have to do all of those things as a team. It is the only way.”

We need Liverpool fans onside, says Van Dijk

Van Dijk also called on the fans to rally round the players tonight and form a united front against the Eredivisie leaders.

“I know you guys are frustrated with the way things are at the moment and I understand that frustration,” said the Netherlands international. 

“As I say, I take responsibility for what has been going on and everyone else needs to as well. We can’t ignore the reality of the situation.

“But we are back at Anfield this evening, against a good team in PSV Eindhoven and we will need your support and your backing as much as ever.

“I know that we can count on that and hopefully we can put the weekend behind us, show our togetherness and our fighting spirit and give you guys something to shout about once more.”