🔗 Share this article A Fading Figure of His Commanding Persona - Liverpool's Captain Battles Decline The unforgiving spotlight that has been trained on one global Liverpool legend turned to another on Anfield's most recent disappointing night. Mohamed Salah has been under scrutiny for his struggles this season - and was relegated to the substitutes' 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 array of major prizes, whose struggles came under the microscope during the draw. The Experienced Pair and Contract Extensions Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool question asked at the idea of handing contracts to a experienced stars much closer to the end of their careers than the start. In fact, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no denying the brutal reality that performance has dipped worryingly for both. A Leaky Defense and Summer Spending Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team embarked on a £450m summer overhaul that has not yet shown anything like its worth. Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the sense of being untouchable he has held since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has faced additional challenges 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 had significant difficulties, as highlighted by his panic-stricken handball that resulted in a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Encapsulated The Issue It was exemplified in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk losing possession before backing away and turning away on a 25-yard shot that struck him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such undoubted greatness, Van Dijk has an curious trait of shying away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's disadvantage. Bad luck at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his uncharacteristic failure to act decisively, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment. "Van Dijk surrenders possession and then he just backs off. It's the mistake. 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 impeccable. Every game he was imperious, but right now he's making mistakes and doubting himself." Statistical Decline and A Lack of Command As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be dismissed after winning two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a illustrious Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a faded version of his usual dominant persona this season, with the poest ball recovery rate per game during his Liverpool career, while defensive actions are also down on last season. And, while leadership should not be Van Dijk's sole responsibility alone in a Liverpool team packed with experience, it was absent here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked lost to take control by the throat. Van Dijk's poor display, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an makeshift forward, was indicative of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the rule. A Side Devoid of Ideas Slot persisted with the side that stopped 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 pinned hopes on him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also ineffective after getting off the mark with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday. Slot would have been under even more pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not deflected in off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a grandstand finish. A late scare came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only avoided defeat 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 rounded keeper Alisson. Credit Due and Looking Ahead Slot and his underperforming defending champions ultimately had to take a point knowing it could have been worse, with Alisson lucky 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 sluggish, ponderous and devoid of creativity. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried minimal threat. Performances like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title has fallen apart. But huge credit for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being seeing the results for a summer of clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were positive, self-believing and dangerous. Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is telling of the manner in which they have embraced life in the Premier League that they will be disappointed they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is back to the drawing board.
The unforgiving spotlight that has been trained on one global Liverpool legend turned to another on Anfield's most recent disappointing night. Mohamed Salah has been under scrutiny for his struggles this season - and was relegated to the substitutes' 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 array of major prizes, whose struggles came under the microscope during the draw. The Experienced Pair and Contract Extensions Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool question asked at the idea of handing contracts to a experienced stars much closer to the end of their careers than the start. In fact, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no denying the brutal reality that performance has dipped worryingly for both. A Leaky Defense and Summer Spending Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team embarked on a £450m summer overhaul that has not yet shown anything like its worth. Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the sense of being untouchable he has held since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has faced additional challenges 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 had significant difficulties, as highlighted by his panic-stricken handball that resulted in a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Encapsulated The Issue It was exemplified in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk losing possession before backing away and turning away on a 25-yard shot that struck him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such undoubted greatness, Van Dijk has an curious trait of shying away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's disadvantage. Bad luck at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his uncharacteristic failure to act decisively, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment. "Van Dijk surrenders possession and then he just backs off. It's the mistake. 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 impeccable. Every game he was imperious, but right now he's making mistakes and doubting himself." Statistical Decline and A Lack of Command As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be dismissed after winning two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a illustrious Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a faded version of his usual dominant persona this season, with the poest ball recovery rate per game during his Liverpool career, while defensive actions are also down on last season. And, while leadership should not be Van Dijk's sole responsibility alone in a Liverpool team packed with experience, it was absent here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked lost to take control by the throat. Van Dijk's poor display, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an makeshift forward, was indicative of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the rule. A Side Devoid of Ideas Slot persisted with the side that stopped 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 pinned hopes on him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also ineffective after getting off the mark with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday. Slot would have been under even more pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not deflected in off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a grandstand finish. A late scare came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only avoided defeat 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 rounded keeper Alisson. Credit Due and Looking Ahead Slot and his underperforming defending champions ultimately had to take a point knowing it could have been worse, with Alisson lucky 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 sluggish, ponderous and devoid of creativity. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried minimal threat. Performances like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title has fallen apart. But huge credit for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being seeing the results for a summer of clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were positive, self-believing and dangerous. Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is telling of the manner in which they have embraced life in the Premier League that they will be disappointed they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is back to the drawing board.