🔗 Share this article A Shadow of His Dominant Stature - Liverpool's Captain Fights A Dip in Form The glaring focus that has fallen upon one elite Liverpool legend switched to another on Anfield's latest frustrating night. Mohamed Salah has been under scrutiny for his struggles this campaign - and was consigned to the sidelines for the second straight Premier League game as the Black Cats came to town on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive rock as Liverpool have collected the complete set of top honors, whose poor form took center stage during the 1-1 draw. The Seasoned Stars and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool question asked at the idea of handing contracts to a experienced stars much approaching the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no denying the harsh truth that standards have dropped worryingly for both. A Leaky Defense and A Costly Refit Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee undertook a £450m summer rebuild that has not yet shown anything like its worth. Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to lose the air of invincibility he has possessed since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has received little support by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez failing to settle at left-back. But the renowned star has also fought his own battles, as proved by his panic-stricken handball that conceded a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Sequence That Symbolized The Problem It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a well-earned lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before standing off and turning his back on a 25-yard shot that hit him and floated out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such undoubted greatness, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost. Ill fortune at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his uncharacteristic failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage. "Van Dijk loses the ball 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 imperious, but right now he's erring and doubting himself." Statistical Decline and Missing Leadership As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's stature must not be dismissed 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 faded version of his usual dominant persona 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 preserve alone in a Liverpool team full of experience, it was missing here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked clueless to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the desperate measure of acting as an makeshift forward, was symptomatic of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the norm. A Side Lacking Spark Slot stayed 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 failed to materialize, with £125m Alexander Isak also anonymous after getting off the mark 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 grandstand finish. Stoppage-time tension 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 rounded keeper Alisson. Credit Due and Looking Ahead Slot and his struggling title-holders ultimately had to accept the 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 lethargic, unimaginative and short on invention. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried little conviction. Displays like this are the reason their defense of their crown has fallen apart. But huge credit for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being rewarded for a summer of serious ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were proactive, confident and a genuine threat. 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 time for reflection.
The glaring focus that has fallen upon one elite Liverpool legend switched to another on Anfield's latest frustrating night. Mohamed Salah has been under scrutiny for his struggles this campaign - and was consigned to the sidelines for the second straight Premier League game as the Black Cats came to town on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive rock as Liverpool have collected the complete set of top honors, whose poor form took center stage during the 1-1 draw. The Seasoned Stars and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool question asked at the idea of handing contracts to a experienced stars much approaching the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no denying the harsh truth that standards have dropped worryingly for both. A Leaky Defense and A Costly Refit Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee undertook a £450m summer rebuild that has not yet shown anything like its worth. Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to lose the air of invincibility he has possessed since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has received little support by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez failing to settle at left-back. But the renowned star has also fought his own battles, as proved by his panic-stricken handball that conceded a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Sequence That Symbolized The Problem It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a well-earned lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before standing off and turning his back on a 25-yard shot that hit him and floated out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such undoubted greatness, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost. Ill fortune at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his uncharacteristic failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage. "Van Dijk loses the ball 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 imperious, but right now he's erring and doubting himself." Statistical Decline and Missing Leadership As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's stature must not be dismissed 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 faded version of his usual dominant persona 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 preserve alone in a Liverpool team full of experience, it was missing here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked clueless to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the desperate measure of acting as an makeshift forward, was symptomatic of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the norm. A Side Lacking Spark Slot stayed 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 failed to materialize, with £125m Alexander Isak also anonymous after getting off the mark 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 grandstand finish. Stoppage-time tension 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 rounded keeper Alisson. Credit Due and Looking Ahead Slot and his struggling title-holders ultimately had to accept the 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 lethargic, unimaginative and short on invention. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried little conviction. Displays like this are the reason their defense of their crown has fallen apart. But huge credit for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being rewarded for a summer of serious ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were proactive, confident and a genuine threat. 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 time for reflection.