🔗 Share this article A Fading Figure of His Imperious Self - Liverpool's Captain Grapples With Decline The glaring attention that has been trained on one global Liverpool great turned to another on Anfield's most recent frustrating night. Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his subpar performances this season - and was consigned to the bench for the consecutive Premier League game as Sunderland came to town on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive bedrock as Liverpool have swept up the complete set of major trophies, whose struggles came under the microscope during the draw. The Experienced Pair and Contract Extensions Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked high-value two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool question asked at the prospect of handing contracts to a veteran duo much nearer to the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no escaping the harsh truth that levels have fallen worryingly for both. A Leaky Defense and A Major Overhaul Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team began a £450m summer overhaul that has still to demonstrate anything like value for money. Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the sense of being untouchable he has possessed since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the renowned star has also struggled badly, as highlighted by his panic-stricken handball that gave away a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Sequence That Symbolized The Problem It was exemplified in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before retreating and turning his back on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and floated out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an curious trait of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's disadvantage. Misfortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his unusual failure to act decisively, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage. "Van Dijk loses the ball and then he just retreats. 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 commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and doubting himself." The Numbers and A Leadership Void 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 illustrious Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a faded version of his usual commanding presence this season, with the worst recoveries per game during his Liverpool career, while defensive actions are also down on last season. And, while leadership should not be Van Dijk's exclusive domain alone in a Liverpool team brimming with experience, it was missing here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked bewildered to take control by the throat. Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an emergency striker, was indicative of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the rule. Liverpool Without Inspiration Slot persisted with the side that halted a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more observing from the sidelines. The Egyptian emerged at the start of the second half as the Kop looked to him for inspiration. It never came, 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 dramatic ending. Stoppage-time tension came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only spared embarrassment 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 The Road Forward Slot and his underperforming defending champions ultimately had to accept the point 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 slow, labored and lacking in ideas. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried minimal threat. Showings like this are the reason their title defence has collapsed. But full acknowledgment for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being seeing the results for a summer of notable ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the superb management of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were positive, 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 grown into 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 glaring attention that has been trained on one global Liverpool great turned to another on Anfield's most recent frustrating night. Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his subpar performances this season - and was consigned to the bench for the consecutive Premier League game as Sunderland came to town on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive bedrock as Liverpool have swept up the complete set of major trophies, whose struggles came under the microscope during the draw. The Experienced Pair and Contract Extensions Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked high-value two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool question asked at the prospect of handing contracts to a veteran duo much nearer to the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no escaping the harsh truth that levels have fallen worryingly for both. A Leaky Defense and A Major Overhaul Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team began a £450m summer overhaul that has still to demonstrate anything like value for money. Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the sense of being untouchable he has possessed since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the renowned star has also struggled badly, as highlighted by his panic-stricken handball that gave away a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Sequence That Symbolized The Problem It was exemplified in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before retreating and turning his back on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and floated out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an curious trait of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's disadvantage. Misfortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his unusual failure to act decisively, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage. "Van Dijk loses the ball and then he just retreats. 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 commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and doubting himself." The Numbers and A Leadership Void 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 illustrious Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a faded version of his usual commanding presence this season, with the worst recoveries per game during his Liverpool career, while defensive actions are also down on last season. And, while leadership should not be Van Dijk's exclusive domain alone in a Liverpool team brimming with experience, it was missing here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked bewildered to take control by the throat. Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an emergency striker, was indicative of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the rule. Liverpool Without Inspiration Slot persisted with the side that halted a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more observing from the sidelines. The Egyptian emerged at the start of the second half as the Kop looked to him for inspiration. It never came, 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 dramatic ending. Stoppage-time tension came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only spared embarrassment 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 The Road Forward Slot and his underperforming defending champions ultimately had to accept the point 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 slow, labored and lacking in ideas. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried minimal threat. Showings like this are the reason their title defence has collapsed. But full acknowledgment for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being seeing the results for a summer of notable ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the superb management of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were positive, 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 grown into 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.