🔗 Share this article A Fading Figure of His Commanding Persona - Liverpool's Captain Grapples With Waning Influence The glaring spotlight that has been trained on one global Liverpool legend shifted to another on Anfield's latest desperate night. Mohamed Salah has been under scrutiny for his poor form this season - and was consigned to the 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 foundation as Liverpool have collected the array of major trophies, whose dip in performance came under the microscope during the stalemate. The Veteran Duo and Renewed Terms Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed high-value two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool eyebrow raised at the idea of offering extensions to a veteran duo much closer to the end of their careers than the start. Truly, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no avoiding the stark fact that levels have fallen worryingly for both. A Leaky Defense and Summer Spending Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee undertook a £450m summer overhaul that has not yet shown anything like a good return. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to lose the sense of being untouchable he has possessed since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt 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 heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Symbolized The Problem It was captured in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before standing off and averting his body on a 25-yard shot that struck him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of turning his back on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost. Misfortune at the conclusion, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his atypical failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising. "Van Dijk loses the ball and then he just backs off. It's the incorrect choice. 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 erring and second-guessing himself." The Numbers 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 stellar Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a shadow of his usual commanding presence 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 preserve alone in a Liverpool team full of experience, it was absent here. No-one was motivating a team that once again looked clueless to grab the game by the throat. Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an makeshift forward, was indicative of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the outlier rather than the standard. A Side Without Spark 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 turned to him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also quiet after scoring his first 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. A late scare 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 rounded keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and Looking Ahead Slot and his underperforming defending champions ultimately had to settle for a draw 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, unimaginative and devoid of creativity. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried minimal threat. Displays like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title has fallen apart. 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 superb management of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were adventurous, assured 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 frustrated they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is back to the drawing board.
The glaring spotlight that has been trained on one global Liverpool legend shifted to another on Anfield's latest desperate night. Mohamed Salah has been under scrutiny for his poor form this season - and was consigned to the 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 foundation as Liverpool have collected the array of major trophies, whose dip in performance came under the microscope during the stalemate. The Veteran Duo and Renewed Terms Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed high-value two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool eyebrow raised at the idea of offering extensions to a veteran duo much closer to the end of their careers than the start. Truly, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no avoiding the stark fact that levels have fallen worryingly for both. A Leaky Defense and Summer Spending Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee undertook a £450m summer overhaul that has not yet shown anything like a good return. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to lose the sense of being untouchable he has possessed since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt 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 heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Symbolized The Problem It was captured in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before standing off and averting his body on a 25-yard shot that struck him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of turning his back on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost. Misfortune at the conclusion, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his atypical failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising. "Van Dijk loses the ball and then he just backs off. It's the incorrect choice. 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 erring and second-guessing himself." The Numbers 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 stellar Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a shadow of his usual commanding presence 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 preserve alone in a Liverpool team full of experience, it was absent here. No-one was motivating a team that once again looked clueless to grab the game by the throat. Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an makeshift forward, was indicative of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the outlier rather than the standard. A Side Without Spark 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 turned to him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also quiet after scoring his first 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. A late scare 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 rounded keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and Looking Ahead Slot and his underperforming defending champions ultimately had to settle for a draw 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, unimaginative and devoid of creativity. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried minimal threat. Displays like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title has fallen apart. 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 superb management of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were adventurous, assured 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 frustrated they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is back to the drawing board.