🔗 Share this article A Fading Figure of His Dominant Stature - Liverpool's Captain Battles A Dip in Form The glaring focus that has fallen upon one elite Liverpool icon turned to another on Anfield's most recent frustrating night. Mohamed Salah has come under fire for his subpar performances this campaign - and was consigned to the bench for the second successive Premier League game as the Black Cats arrived on Wednesday. But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive rock as Liverpool have collected the full collection of major trophies, whose poor form became the focus during the 1-1 draw. The Veteran Duo and Renewed Terms Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool eyebrow raised at the idea of offering extensions to a experienced stars much nearer to the end of their careers than the start. In fact, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no avoiding the brutal reality that levels have fallen concerningly for both. Defensive Vulnerabilities and Summer Spending Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's scouting department undertook a £450m summer rebuild that has yet to prove anything like its worth. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to lose the aura of invulnerability he has held since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez failing to settle at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also fought his own battles, as demonstrated by his desperate handball that gave away a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Encapsulated The Struggle It was exemplified in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a well-earned lead, Van Dijk losing possession before backing away and averting his body on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such undoubted greatness, Van Dijk has an unusual habit of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's disadvantage. Ill fortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk courted with his uncharacteristic failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising. "Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just backs off. It's the wrong decision. He needs to go to the ball. Him not making the decision means that no one else knows what to do." "Virgil Van Dijk last season was faultless. Every game he was dominant, but right now he's making mistakes and second-guessing himself." Performance Metrics and A Lack of Command As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber must not be discarded after winning two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a glittering Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a shadow of his usual imperious self this season, with the worst recoveries per game during his Liverpool career, while tackles and interceptions are also down on last season. And, while leadership should not be Van Dijk's sole responsibility alone in a Liverpool team brimming with experience, it was missing here. No-one was motivating a team that once again looked lost to seize the initiative by the initiative. Van Dijk's poor display, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an emergency striker, was representative of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the outlier rather than the standard. A Side Without Ideas Slot kept faith with the side that ended a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more watching from the sidelines. The Egyptian came on at the start of the second half as the Kop turned to him for inspiration. It never came, with £125m Alexander Isak also anonymous after scoring his first with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday. Slot would have been under increased scrutiny had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not taken a deflection off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a thrilling finale. Late drama came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only saved from humiliation in stoppage time when Federico Chiesa's outstanding recovery run allowed him to turn Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor's shot off the line after he had beaten keeper Alisson. Credit Due and Looking Ahead Slot and his fading champions ultimately had to settle for a draw knowing it could have been worse, with Alisson fortunate to turn Trai Hume's shot onto the bar in the first half before Omar Alderete headed against the post after the interval. Liverpool were lethargic, unimaginative and short on invention. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried scant belief. Showings like this are the reason their title defence has collapsed. But huge credit for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being seeing the results for a summer of serious ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the fine work of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were adventurous, confident and a genuine threat. Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is indicative of the manner in which they have adapted to life in the Premier League that they will be unhappy they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is time for reflection.
The glaring focus that has fallen upon one elite Liverpool icon turned to another on Anfield's most recent frustrating night. Mohamed Salah has come under fire for his subpar performances this campaign - and was consigned to the bench for the second successive Premier League game as the Black Cats arrived on Wednesday. But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive rock as Liverpool have collected the full collection of major trophies, whose poor form became the focus during the 1-1 draw. The Veteran Duo and Renewed Terms Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool eyebrow raised at the idea of offering extensions to a experienced stars much nearer to the end of their careers than the start. In fact, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no avoiding the brutal reality that levels have fallen concerningly for both. Defensive Vulnerabilities and Summer Spending Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's scouting department undertook a £450m summer rebuild that has yet to prove anything like its worth. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to lose the aura of invulnerability he has held since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez failing to settle at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also fought his own battles, as demonstrated by his desperate handball that gave away a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Encapsulated The Struggle It was exemplified in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a well-earned lead, Van Dijk losing possession before backing away and averting his body on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such undoubted greatness, Van Dijk has an unusual habit of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's disadvantage. Ill fortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk courted with his uncharacteristic failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising. "Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just backs off. It's the wrong decision. He needs to go to the ball. Him not making the decision means that no one else knows what to do." "Virgil Van Dijk last season was faultless. Every game he was dominant, but right now he's making mistakes and second-guessing himself." Performance Metrics and A Lack of Command As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber must not be discarded after winning two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a glittering Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a shadow of his usual imperious self this season, with the worst recoveries per game during his Liverpool career, while tackles and interceptions are also down on last season. And, while leadership should not be Van Dijk's sole responsibility alone in a Liverpool team brimming with experience, it was missing here. No-one was motivating a team that once again looked lost to seize the initiative by the initiative. Van Dijk's poor display, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an emergency striker, was representative of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the outlier rather than the standard. A Side Without Ideas Slot kept faith with the side that ended a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more watching from the sidelines. The Egyptian came on at the start of the second half as the Kop turned to him for inspiration. It never came, with £125m Alexander Isak also anonymous after scoring his first with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday. Slot would have been under increased scrutiny had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not taken a deflection off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a thrilling finale. Late drama came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only saved from humiliation in stoppage time when Federico Chiesa's outstanding recovery run allowed him to turn Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor's shot off the line after he had beaten keeper Alisson. Credit Due and Looking Ahead Slot and his fading champions ultimately had to settle for a draw knowing it could have been worse, with Alisson fortunate to turn Trai Hume's shot onto the bar in the first half before Omar Alderete headed against the post after the interval. Liverpool were lethargic, unimaginative and short on invention. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried scant belief. Showings like this are the reason their title defence has collapsed. But huge credit for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being seeing the results for a summer of serious ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the fine work of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were adventurous, confident and a genuine threat. Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is indicative of the manner in which they have adapted to life in the Premier League that they will be unhappy they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is time for reflection.