A Fading Figure of His Commanding Persona - Van Dijk Grapples With Decline
The intense focus that has fallen upon one world-class Liverpool legend turned to another on Anfield's most recent desperate night.
Mohamed Salah has been under scrutiny for his poor form this campaign - and was placed on the bench for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland came to town on Wednesday.
But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive rock as Liverpool have swept up the array of major prizes, whose struggles became the focus during the draw.
The Experienced Pair and Renewed Terms
Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool concern voiced at the idea of offering extensions to a seasoned pair much approaching the end of their careers than the start.
Truly, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no avoiding the stark fact that levels have fallen worryingly for both.
Defensive Vulnerabilities and A Major Overhaul
Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's scouting department began a ÂŁ450m summer refit that has not yet shown anything like a good return.
Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the air of invincibility he has carried since his ÂŁ75m move from Southampton in January 2018.
Van Dijk has not been helped by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the renowned star has also fought his own battles, as proved by his rash handball that conceded a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
A Moment That Symbolized The Issue
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 turning away on a 25-yard shot that hit him and looped 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.
Bad luck at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk courted with his uncharacteristic failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising.
"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 dominant, but right now he's making mistakes and doubting himself."
The Numbers and Missing Leadership
As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be discarded after securing two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a illustrious Liverpool career.
He has, though, looked a faded version of his usual commanding presence 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 absent here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked lost 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 makeshift forward, was symptomatic of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the standard.
A Side Devoid of Spark
Slot kept faith 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 was introduced at the start of the second half as the Kop looked to him for inspiration. It failed to materialize, with ÂŁ125m Alexander Isak also anonymous after getting off the mark with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday.
Slot would have been under increased scrutiny 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 saved from humiliation 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.
Credit Due and The Road Forward
Slot and his underperforming defending champions ultimately had to take a point 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 slow, labored and lacking in ideas. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried scant belief. Showings like this are the reason their defense of their crown has fallen apart.
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, assured and a genuine threat.
Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is symptomatic 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 a case of going back to basics.
