🔗 Share this article A Diminished Presence of His Imperious Self - Van Dijk Battles A Dip in Form The intense focus that has fallen upon one elite Liverpool icon switched to another on Anfield's latest desperate night. The Egyptian forward has been under scrutiny for his poor form this campaign - and was consigned to the substitutes' bench for the second successive Premier League game as Sunderland arrived on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive foundation as Liverpool have collected the complete set of major prizes, whose struggles became the focus during the stalemate. The Veteran Duo and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool question asked at the prospect of securing the futures to a experienced stars much approaching the end of their careers than the start. Truly, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no denying the stark fact that standards have dropped alarmingly for both. Backline Issues and Summer Spending Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team embarked on a £450m summer rebuild that has not yet shown anything like a good return. Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to lose the aura of invulnerability he has held since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has received little support by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the renowned star has also had significant difficulties, as demonstrated by his panic-stricken handball that conceded a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Sequence That Symbolized 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 averting his body on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and floated 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. Ill fortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his atypical failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment. "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 faultless. Every game he was imperious, but right now he's making mistakes and hesitating." Performance Metrics and Missing Leadership As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's stature must not be discarded 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 faded version of his usual dominant persona this season, with the lowest recovery numbers per game during his Liverpool career, while tackles and interceptions 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 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 horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the standard. A Side Devoid of Inspiration Slot stayed with the side that stopped a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more watching from the sidelines. The Egyptian emerged at the start of the second half as the Kop pinned hopes on him for inspiration. It failed to materialize, with £125m Alexander Isak also anonymous 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 thrilling finale. A late scare came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only saved from humiliation in stoppage time when Federico Chiesa's outstanding recovery run allowed him to turn Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor's shot off the line after he had beaten keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and The Road Forward Slot and his fading champions ultimately had to settle for a draw knowing it could have been worse, with Alisson lucky 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 devoid of creativity. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried scant belief. 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 clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the fine work of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were adventurous, self-believing and threatening. Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is indicative 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 time for reflection.
The intense focus that has fallen upon one elite Liverpool icon switched to another on Anfield's latest desperate night. The Egyptian forward has been under scrutiny for his poor form this campaign - and was consigned to the substitutes' bench for the second successive Premier League game as Sunderland arrived on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive foundation as Liverpool have collected the complete set of major prizes, whose struggles became the focus during the stalemate. The Veteran Duo and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool question asked at the prospect of securing the futures to a experienced stars much approaching the end of their careers than the start. Truly, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no denying the stark fact that standards have dropped alarmingly for both. Backline Issues and Summer Spending Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team embarked on a £450m summer rebuild that has not yet shown anything like a good return. Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to lose the aura of invulnerability he has held since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has received little support by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the renowned star has also had significant difficulties, as demonstrated by his panic-stricken handball that conceded a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Sequence That Symbolized 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 averting his body on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and floated 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. Ill fortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his atypical failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment. "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 faultless. Every game he was imperious, but right now he's making mistakes and hesitating." Performance Metrics and Missing Leadership As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's stature must not be discarded 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 faded version of his usual dominant persona this season, with the lowest recovery numbers per game during his Liverpool career, while tackles and interceptions 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 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 horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the standard. A Side Devoid of Inspiration Slot stayed with the side that stopped a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more watching from the sidelines. The Egyptian emerged at the start of the second half as the Kop pinned hopes on him for inspiration. It failed to materialize, with £125m Alexander Isak also anonymous 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 thrilling finale. A late scare came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only saved from humiliation in stoppage time when Federico Chiesa's outstanding recovery run allowed him to turn Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor's shot off the line after he had beaten keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and The Road Forward Slot and his fading champions ultimately had to settle for a draw knowing it could have been worse, with Alisson lucky 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 devoid of creativity. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried scant belief. 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 clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the fine work of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were adventurous, self-believing and threatening. Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is indicative 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 time for reflection.