🔗 Share this article A Diminished Presence of His Commanding Persona - Liverpool's Captain Fights A Dip in Form The unforgiving spotlight that has centered around one elite Liverpool icon turned to another on Anfield's fresh disappointing night. The Egyptian forward has come under fire for his poor form this campaign - and was relegated to the bench for the second straight Premier League game as the Black Cats came to town on Wednesday. But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive bedrock as Liverpool have secured the complete set of major trophies, whose dip in performance took center stage during the 1-1 draw. The Experienced Pair and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool eyebrow raised at the notion of offering extensions to a veteran duo much closer to the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no denying the stark fact that performance has dipped alarmingly for both. Defensive Vulnerabilities and Summer Spending Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team began a £450m summer rebuild that has yet to prove anything like value for money. Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the sense of being untouchable he has carried since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also struggled badly, as proved by his rash handball that resulted in a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Symbolized The Problem It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before standing off and averting his body on a 25-yard shot that struck him and drifted 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 detriment. Bad luck at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his atypical failure to take charge, 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 faultless. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's erring and hesitating." The Numbers and Missing Leadership As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber must not be written off 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 commanding presence 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 preserve alone in a Liverpool team full of experience, it was lacking here. No-one was motivating a team that once again looked clueless to grab the game by the throat. Van Dijk's poor display, which ended with him being used as the desperate measure 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 norm. A Side Devoid of Inspiration Slot stayed with the side that ended a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more starting on the sidelines. The Egyptian emerged at the start of the second half as the Kop looked 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 greater pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not deflected in off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a thrilling finale. Stoppage-time tension came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only spared embarrassment in stoppage time when Federico Chiesa's superb tracking back allowed him to turn Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor's shot off the line after he had beaten keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and The Road Forward Slot and his underperforming defending champions ultimately had to settle for a draw knowing it could have been worse, with Alisson blessed 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, ponderous and short on invention. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried scant belief. Performances like this are the reason their title defence has collapsed. But significant praise for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being rewarded for a summer of clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the fine work of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were positive, self-believing and threatening. Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is telling of the manner in which they have adapted to 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 unforgiving spotlight that has centered around one elite Liverpool icon turned to another on Anfield's fresh disappointing night. The Egyptian forward has come under fire for his poor form this campaign - and was relegated to the bench for the second straight Premier League game as the Black Cats came to town on Wednesday. But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive bedrock as Liverpool have secured the complete set of major trophies, whose dip in performance took center stage during the 1-1 draw. The Experienced Pair and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool eyebrow raised at the notion of offering extensions to a veteran duo much closer to the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no denying the stark fact that performance has dipped alarmingly for both. Defensive Vulnerabilities and Summer Spending Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team began a £450m summer rebuild that has yet to prove anything like value for money. Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the sense of being untouchable he has carried since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also struggled badly, as proved by his rash handball that resulted in a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Symbolized The Problem It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before standing off and averting his body on a 25-yard shot that struck him and drifted 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 detriment. Bad luck at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his atypical failure to take charge, 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 faultless. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's erring and hesitating." The Numbers and Missing Leadership As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber must not be written off 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 commanding presence 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 preserve alone in a Liverpool team full of experience, it was lacking here. No-one was motivating a team that once again looked clueless to grab the game by the throat. Van Dijk's poor display, which ended with him being used as the desperate measure 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 norm. A Side Devoid of Inspiration Slot stayed with the side that ended a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more starting on the sidelines. The Egyptian emerged at the start of the second half as the Kop looked 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 greater pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not deflected in off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a thrilling finale. Stoppage-time tension came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only spared embarrassment in stoppage time when Federico Chiesa's superb tracking back allowed him to turn Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor's shot off the line after he had beaten keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and The Road Forward Slot and his underperforming defending champions ultimately had to settle for a draw knowing it could have been worse, with Alisson blessed 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, ponderous and short on invention. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried scant belief. Performances like this are the reason their title defence has collapsed. But significant praise for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being rewarded for a summer of clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the fine work of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were positive, self-believing and threatening. Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is telling of the manner in which they have adapted to 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.