🔗 Share this article A Shadow of His Commanding Persona - Liverpool's Captain Fights A Dip in Form The intense spotlight that has centered around one global Liverpool great switched to another on Anfield's latest frustrating night. Mohamed Salah has come under fire for his struggles this season - and was relegated to the bench for the consecutive Premier League game as the Black Cats visited on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have collected the complete set of major trophies, whose struggles took center stage during the stalemate. The Veteran Duo and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool eyebrow raised at the idea of securing the futures to a seasoned pair much nearer to the end of their careers than the start. In fact, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no denying the brutal reality that levels have fallen worryingly for both. Defensive Vulnerabilities and Summer Spending Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's scouting department began a £450m summer refit 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 carried since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also had significant difficulties, as proved by his rash handball that resulted in a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Summed Up The Issue It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a well-earned lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before standing off and turning his back 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 curious trait of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment. Bad luck at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his unusual failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage. "Van Dijk surrenders possession and then he just drops off. 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 couldn't make a mistake. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and hesitating." Performance Metrics and Missing Leadership As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be dismissed after claiming 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 imperious self 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 exclusive domain alone in a Liverpool team brimming with experience, it was missing here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked clueless to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the last resort of acting as an emergency striker, was indicative of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the outlier rather than the rule. A Side Devoid of Spark Slot kept faith with the side that ended 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 pinned hopes on him for inspiration. It never came, 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 taken a deflection 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 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 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 sluggish, ponderous and devoid of creativity. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried scant belief. Performances like this are the reason their defense of their crown 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 notable ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were positive, assured and dangerous. Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is indicative of the manner in which they have embraced 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 a case of going back to basics.
The intense spotlight that has centered around one global Liverpool great switched to another on Anfield's latest frustrating night. Mohamed Salah has come under fire for his struggles this season - and was relegated to the bench for the consecutive Premier League game as the Black Cats visited on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have collected the complete set of major trophies, whose struggles took center stage during the stalemate. The Veteran Duo and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool eyebrow raised at the idea of securing the futures to a seasoned pair much nearer to the end of their careers than the start. In fact, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no denying the brutal reality that levels have fallen worryingly for both. Defensive Vulnerabilities and Summer Spending Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's scouting department began a £450m summer refit 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 carried since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also had significant difficulties, as proved by his rash handball that resulted in a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Summed Up The Issue It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a well-earned lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before standing off and turning his back 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 curious trait of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment. Bad luck at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his unusual failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage. "Van Dijk surrenders possession and then he just drops off. 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 couldn't make a mistake. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and hesitating." Performance Metrics and Missing Leadership As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be dismissed after claiming 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 imperious self 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 exclusive domain alone in a Liverpool team brimming with experience, it was missing here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked clueless to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the last resort of acting as an emergency striker, was indicative of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the outlier rather than the rule. A Side Devoid of Spark Slot kept faith with the side that ended 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 pinned hopes on him for inspiration. It never came, 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 taken a deflection 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 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 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 sluggish, ponderous and devoid of creativity. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried scant belief. Performances like this are the reason their defense of their crown 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 notable ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were positive, assured and dangerous. Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is indicative of the manner in which they have embraced 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 a case of going back to basics.