A Fading Figure of His Commanding Persona - Van Dijk Grapples With Decline

The intense attention that has been trained on one global Liverpool great switched to another on Anfield's most recent frustrating night.

Mohamed Salah has been under scrutiny for his subpar performances this season - and was consigned to the sidelines for the second successive Premier League game as Sunderland arrived on Wednesday.

But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive bedrock as Liverpool have collected the full collection of top honors, whose poor form took center stage during the 1-1 draw.

The Veteran Duo and Renewed Terms

Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool concern voiced at the prospect of securing the futures to a veteran duo much closer to the end of their careers than the start.

In fact, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no escaping the brutal reality that levels have fallen concerningly for both.

Defensive Vulnerabilities and Summer Spending

Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's scouting department undertook a £450m summer refit that has not yet shown anything like its worth.

Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to shed the aura of invulnerability he has possessed 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 failing to settle at left-back. But the esteemed defender has also struggled badly, as demonstrated by his desperate handball that resulted in a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.

A Moment That Summed Up The Issue

It was captured 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 deflected off him and drifted out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson.

For a defender of such unquestionable quality, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost.

Ill fortune at the conclusion, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his atypical failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage.

"Van Dijk surrenders possession 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 commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and hesitating."

The Numbers and A Leadership Void

As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's stature must not be discarded after claiming 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 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 full of experience, it was absent here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked bewildered to take control 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 indicative of a distinctly poor Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the rule.

A Team Without Ideas

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 came on at the start of the second half as the Kop turned to him for inspiration. It never came, with £125m Alexander Isak also anonymous after opening his account 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.

Stoppage-time tension came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only avoided defeat 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 take a 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, ponderous and devoid of creativity. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried minimal threat. Performances 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 notable 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 disappointed they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally.

For Slot and Liverpool, it is time for reflection.