🔗 Share this article A Shadow of His Imperious Self - Liverpool's Captain Battles Waning Influence The glaring focus that has fallen upon one world-class Liverpool legend switched to another on Anfield's fresh desperate night. The Egyptian forward has come under fire for his struggles this campaign - and was placed on the substitutes' bench for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland arrived on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive rock as Liverpool have collected the array of top honors, whose poor form took center stage during the stalemate. The Experienced Pair and Renewed Terms Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a 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 reason for joy - but now there is no denying the harsh truth that performance has dipped alarmingly for both. Backline Issues and A Major Overhaul Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team undertook a £450m summer overhaul that has not yet shown anything like its worth. Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to shed the aura of invulnerability he has held since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also had significant difficulties, as highlighted by his rash handball that gave away a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Summed Up The Problem It was exemplified in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk losing possession before standing off and averting his body on a 25-yard shot that struck him and drifted out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such unquestionable quality, Van Dijk has an curious trait of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's disadvantage. Misfortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his unusual failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising. "Van Dijk gives the ball away 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 was faultless. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and second-guessing himself." The Numbers and Missing Leadership As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be written off after securing 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 poest ball recovery rate per game during his Liverpool career, while defensive actions are also down on last season. And, while leadership should not be Van Dijk's preserve alone in a Liverpool team packed with experience, it was lacking here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked bewildered to take control by the throat. Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an emergency striker, was representative of a distinctly poor Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the standard. A Side Without Spark Slot stayed with the side that ended 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 looked 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 greater pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not been turned in 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 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 dribbled past keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and The Road Forward 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 slow, ponderous and short on invention. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried little conviction. Displays like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title has crumbled. But significant praise for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being rewarded for a summer of serious ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were proactive, 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 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 time for reflection.
The glaring focus that has fallen upon one world-class Liverpool legend switched to another on Anfield's fresh desperate night. The Egyptian forward has come under fire for his struggles this campaign - and was placed on the substitutes' bench for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland arrived on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive rock as Liverpool have collected the array of top honors, whose poor form took center stage during the stalemate. The Experienced Pair and Renewed Terms Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a 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 reason for joy - but now there is no denying the harsh truth that performance has dipped alarmingly for both. Backline Issues and A Major Overhaul Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team undertook a £450m summer overhaul that has not yet shown anything like its worth. Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to shed the aura of invulnerability he has held since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also had significant difficulties, as highlighted by his rash handball that gave away a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Summed Up The Problem It was exemplified in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk losing possession before standing off and averting his body on a 25-yard shot that struck him and drifted out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such unquestionable quality, Van Dijk has an curious trait of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's disadvantage. Misfortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his unusual failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising. "Van Dijk gives the ball away 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 was faultless. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and second-guessing himself." The Numbers and Missing Leadership As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be written off after securing 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 poest ball recovery rate per game during his Liverpool career, while defensive actions are also down on last season. And, while leadership should not be Van Dijk's preserve alone in a Liverpool team packed with experience, it was lacking here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked bewildered to take control by the throat. Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an emergency striker, was representative of a distinctly poor Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the standard. A Side Without Spark Slot stayed with the side that ended 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 looked 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 greater pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not been turned in 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 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 dribbled past keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and The Road Forward 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 slow, ponderous and short on invention. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried little conviction. Displays like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title has crumbled. But significant praise for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being rewarded for a summer of serious ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were proactive, 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 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 time for reflection.