🔗 Share this article A Fading Figure of His Dominant Stature - Liverpool's Captain Grapples With Waning Influence The intense focus that has fallen upon one elite Liverpool great shifted to another on Anfield's most recent frustrating night. The Egyptian forward has been under scrutiny for his struggles this season - and was placed on the sidelines for the second straight Premier League game as the Black Cats arrived on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have secured the complete set of major trophies, whose dip in performance came under the microscope during the stalemate. The Veteran Duo and Renewed Terms Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool question asked at the notion of handing contracts to a experienced stars much closer to the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no avoiding the brutal reality that performance has dipped alarmingly for both. A Leaky Defense and Summer Spending Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team embarked on a £450m summer refit that has still to demonstrate anything like a good return. Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the sense of being untouchable he has possessed since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has received little support by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also struggled badly, as highlighted by his panic-stricken handball that resulted in a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Summed Up The Struggle It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a well-earned lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before backing away and turning his back on a 25-yard shot that hit him and floated out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost. Bad luck at the conclusion, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his uncharacteristic failure to take charge, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment. "Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just retreats. 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 impeccable. Every game he was dominant, but right now he's erring and doubting himself." Statistical Decline and A Leadership Void As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber 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 commanding presence this season, with the lowest recovery numbers per game during his Liverpool career, while defensive actions 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 lacking here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked lost to take control by the scruff of the neck. Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the last resort of acting as an makeshift forward, was representative of a distinctly poor Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the outlier rather than the standard. Liverpool Without Spark 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 came on at the start of the second half as the Kop turned to him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also quiet 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 been turned in off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a grandstand finish. 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 rounded keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and The Road Forward Slot and his fading champions ultimately had to accept the 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, unimaginative and short on invention. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried scant belief. Showings like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title 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 clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the fine work of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were proactive, assured and dangerous. Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is symptomatic of the manner in which they have grown into 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 great shifted to another on Anfield's most recent frustrating night. The Egyptian forward has been under scrutiny for his struggles this season - and was placed on the sidelines for the second straight Premier League game as the Black Cats arrived on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have secured the complete set of major trophies, whose dip in performance came under the microscope during the stalemate. The Veteran Duo and Renewed Terms Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool question asked at the notion of handing contracts to a experienced stars much closer to the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no avoiding the brutal reality that performance has dipped alarmingly for both. A Leaky Defense and Summer Spending Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team embarked on a £450m summer refit that has still to demonstrate anything like a good return. Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the sense of being untouchable he has possessed since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has received little support by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also struggled badly, as highlighted by his panic-stricken handball that resulted in a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Summed Up The Struggle It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a well-earned lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before backing away and turning his back on a 25-yard shot that hit him and floated out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost. Bad luck at the conclusion, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his uncharacteristic failure to take charge, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment. "Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just retreats. 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 impeccable. Every game he was dominant, but right now he's erring and doubting himself." Statistical Decline and A Leadership Void As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber 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 commanding presence this season, with the lowest recovery numbers per game during his Liverpool career, while defensive actions 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 lacking here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked lost to take control by the scruff of the neck. Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the last resort of acting as an makeshift forward, was representative of a distinctly poor Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the outlier rather than the standard. Liverpool Without Spark 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 came on at the start of the second half as the Kop turned to him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also quiet 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 been turned in off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a grandstand finish. 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 rounded keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and The Road Forward Slot and his fading champions ultimately had to accept the 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, unimaginative and short on invention. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried scant belief. Showings like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title 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 clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the fine work of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were proactive, assured and dangerous. Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is symptomatic of the manner in which they have grown into 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.