🔗 Share this article A Diminished Presence of His Commanding Persona - Liverpool's Captain Battles A Dip in Form The glaring focus that has centered around one elite Liverpool legend switched to another on Anfield's fresh desperate night. Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his struggles this season - and was consigned to the sidelines for the second straight Premier League game as the Black Cats arrived on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive rock as Liverpool have collected the array of top honors, whose dip in performance took center stage during the stalemate. The Seasoned Stars and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to high-value two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool question asked at the notion of securing the futures to a seasoned pair much approaching the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no escaping the stark fact that standards have dropped alarmingly for both. A Leaky Defense and Summer Spending Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team embarked on a £450m summer overhaul that has not yet shown anything like value for money. Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to shed the air of invincibility he has carried since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the esteemed defender has also struggled badly, as highlighted by his desperate handball that conceded a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Sequence That Encapsulated The Issue It was exemplified in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk losing possession before backing away and turning away on a 25-yard shot that struck 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 cost. Misfortune at the conclusion, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his unusual failure to act decisively, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage. "Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just retreats. 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 faultless. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's slipping up and doubting himself." Statistical Decline and A Lack of Command As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's stature must not be discarded 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 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 exclusive domain alone in a Liverpool team packed with experience, it was missing here. No-one was inspiring 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 emergency option of acting as an last-ditch attacker, was representative of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the standard. Liverpool Lacking Ideas Slot stayed 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 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 even more pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not been turned in off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a dramatic ending. Late drama came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only spared embarrassment 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 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 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 sluggish, unimaginative and lacking in ideas. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried little conviction. Displays like this are the reason their title defence has crumbled. But full acknowledgment 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, confident and a genuine threat. 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 focus that has centered around one elite Liverpool legend switched to another on Anfield's fresh desperate night. Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his struggles this season - and was consigned to the sidelines for the second straight Premier League game as the Black Cats arrived on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive rock as Liverpool have collected the array of top honors, whose dip in performance took center stage during the stalemate. The Seasoned Stars and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to high-value two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool question asked at the notion of securing the futures to a seasoned pair much approaching the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no escaping the stark fact that standards have dropped alarmingly for both. A Leaky Defense and Summer Spending Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team embarked on a £450m summer overhaul that has not yet shown anything like value for money. Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to shed the air of invincibility he has carried since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the esteemed defender has also struggled badly, as highlighted by his desperate handball that conceded a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Sequence That Encapsulated The Issue It was exemplified in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk losing possession before backing away and turning away on a 25-yard shot that struck 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 cost. Misfortune at the conclusion, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his unusual failure to act decisively, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage. "Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just retreats. 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 faultless. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's slipping up and doubting himself." Statistical Decline and A Lack of Command As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's stature must not be discarded 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 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 exclusive domain alone in a Liverpool team packed with experience, it was missing here. No-one was inspiring 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 emergency option of acting as an last-ditch attacker, was representative of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the standard. Liverpool Lacking Ideas Slot stayed 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 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 even more pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not been turned in off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a dramatic ending. Late drama came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only spared embarrassment 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 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 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 sluggish, unimaginative and lacking in ideas. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried little conviction. Displays like this are the reason their title defence has crumbled. But full acknowledgment 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, confident and a genuine threat. 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.