🔗 Share this article A Shadow of His Dominant Stature - Liverpool's Captain Battles Decline The unforgiving focus that has fallen upon one world-class Liverpool great turned to another on Anfield's most recent frustrating night. The Egyptian forward has faced examination for his struggles this season - and was consigned to the substitutes' bench for the second successive Premier League game as the Black Cats visited on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have swept up the full collection of major trophies, whose struggles came under the microscope during the draw. The Seasoned Stars and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool question asked at the idea of handing contracts to a veteran duo much approaching the end of their careers than the start. In fact, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no avoiding the stark fact that levels have fallen concerningly for both. A Leaky Defense and Summer Spending Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's scouting department undertook a £450m summer rebuild that has not yet shown anything like value for money. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to lose the aura of invulnerability he has held since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also struggled badly, as demonstrated by his panic-stricken handball that resulted in a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Encapsulated The Problem It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a deserved lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before backing away and averting his body 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 peculiar tendency of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment. Ill fortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk courted with his atypical failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment. "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 impeccable. Every game he was dominant, 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 discarded after securing two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a stellar Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a shadow of his usual dominant persona this season, with the poest ball recovery rate per game during his Liverpool career, while key defensive stats 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 absent here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked clueless to seize the initiative by the throat. Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the desperate measure of acting as an last-ditch attacker, was symptomatic of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the rule. A Team Without Inspiration Slot persisted with the side that halted 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 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 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 saved from humiliation 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 fading 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 short on invention. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried scant belief. Showings like this are the reason their title defence has crumbled. But significant praise for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being reaping the benefits for a summer of serious ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the fine work of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were adventurous, 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 embraced life in the Premier League that they will be frustrated they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is time for reflection.
The unforgiving focus that has fallen upon one world-class Liverpool great turned to another on Anfield's most recent frustrating night. The Egyptian forward has faced examination for his struggles this season - and was consigned to the substitutes' bench for the second successive Premier League game as the Black Cats visited on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have swept up the full collection of major trophies, whose struggles came under the microscope during the draw. The Seasoned Stars and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool question asked at the idea of handing contracts to a veteran duo much approaching the end of their careers than the start. In fact, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no avoiding the stark fact that levels have fallen concerningly for both. A Leaky Defense and Summer Spending Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's scouting department undertook a £450m summer rebuild that has not yet shown anything like value for money. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to lose the aura of invulnerability he has held since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also struggled badly, as demonstrated by his panic-stricken handball that resulted in a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Encapsulated The Problem It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a deserved lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before backing away and averting his body 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 peculiar tendency of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment. Ill fortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk courted with his atypical failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment. "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 impeccable. Every game he was dominant, 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 discarded after securing two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a stellar Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a shadow of his usual dominant persona this season, with the poest ball recovery rate per game during his Liverpool career, while key defensive stats 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 absent here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked clueless to seize the initiative by the throat. Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the desperate measure of acting as an last-ditch attacker, was symptomatic of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the rule. A Team Without Inspiration Slot persisted with the side that halted 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 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 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 saved from humiliation 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 fading 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 short on invention. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried scant belief. Showings like this are the reason their title defence has crumbled. But significant praise for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being reaping the benefits for a summer of serious ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the fine work of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were adventurous, 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 embraced life in the Premier League that they will be frustrated they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is time for reflection.