🔗 Share this article A Fading Figure of His Commanding Persona - Liverpool's Captain Battles Decline The glaring spotlight that has been trained on one global Liverpool icon shifted to another on Anfield's most recent desperate night. Mohamed Salah has come under fire for his poor form this season - and was placed on the substitutes' bench for the second straight Premier League game as the Black Cats came to town on Wednesday. But it was skipper Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive rock as Liverpool have swept up the array of top honors, whose dip in performance became the focus during the stalemate. The Experienced Pair and Renewed Terms Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked high-value two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool eyebrow raised at the idea of offering extensions to a seasoned pair much closer to the end of their careers than the start. In fact, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no avoiding the brutal reality that levels have fallen alarmingly for both. Backline Issues and A Major Overhaul Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee embarked on a £450m summer overhaul that has yet to prove anything like a good return. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to lose the air of invincibility he has held since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped 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 struggled badly, as proved by his rash handball that conceded a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Encapsulated The Problem It was exemplified in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before backing away and turning away on a 25-yard shot that hit him and drifted out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such unquestionable quality, Van Dijk has an curious trait of shying away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost. Misfortune at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his unusual failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising. "Van Dijk surrenders possession and then he just drops 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 couldn't make a mistake. Every game he was dominant, but right now he's erring and second-guessing himself." Statistical Decline and A Leadership Void As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber must not be dismissed 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 pale imitation of his usual commanding presence this season, with the worst recoveries 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 packed with experience, it was absent here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked lost to grab the game by the initiative. Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the last resort of acting as an last-ditch attacker, was symptomatic of a distinctly poor Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the standard. A Side Without Ideas Slot persisted with the side that halted a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more starting on the sidelines. The Egyptian was introduced at the start of the second half as the Kop looked to him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also quiet 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 thrilling finale. Stoppage-time tension came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only avoided defeat in stoppage time when Federico Chiesa's excellent defensive sprint allowed him to turn Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor's shot off the line after he had dribbled past keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and Looking Ahead Slot and his underperforming defending champions ultimately had to take a 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 sluggish, labored and short on invention. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried minimal threat. Showings like this are the reason their title defence has collapsed. But huge credit 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, assured and threatening. 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 unhappy 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 icon shifted to another on Anfield's most recent desperate night. Mohamed Salah has come under fire for his poor form this season - and was placed on the substitutes' bench for the second straight Premier League game as the Black Cats came to town on Wednesday. But it was skipper Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive rock as Liverpool have swept up the array of top honors, whose dip in performance became the focus during the stalemate. The Experienced Pair and Renewed Terms Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked high-value two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool eyebrow raised at the idea of offering extensions to a seasoned pair much closer to the end of their careers than the start. In fact, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no avoiding the brutal reality that levels have fallen alarmingly for both. Backline Issues and A Major Overhaul Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee embarked on a £450m summer overhaul that has yet to prove anything like a good return. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to lose the air of invincibility he has held since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped 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 struggled badly, as proved by his rash handball that conceded a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Encapsulated The Problem It was exemplified in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before backing away and turning away on a 25-yard shot that hit him and drifted out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such unquestionable quality, Van Dijk has an curious trait of shying away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost. Misfortune at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his unusual failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising. "Van Dijk surrenders possession and then he just drops 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 couldn't make a mistake. Every game he was dominant, but right now he's erring and second-guessing himself." Statistical Decline and A Leadership Void As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber must not be dismissed 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 pale imitation of his usual commanding presence this season, with the worst recoveries 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 packed with experience, it was absent here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked lost to grab the game by the initiative. Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the last resort of acting as an last-ditch attacker, was symptomatic of a distinctly poor Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the standard. A Side Without Ideas Slot persisted with the side that halted a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more starting on the sidelines. The Egyptian was introduced at the start of the second half as the Kop looked to him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also quiet 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 thrilling finale. Stoppage-time tension came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only avoided defeat in stoppage time when Federico Chiesa's excellent defensive sprint allowed him to turn Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor's shot off the line after he had dribbled past keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and Looking Ahead Slot and his underperforming defending champions ultimately had to take a 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 sluggish, labored and short on invention. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried minimal threat. Showings like this are the reason their title defence has collapsed. But huge credit 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, assured and threatening. 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 unhappy they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is back to the drawing board.