🔗 Share this article A Fading Figure of His Commanding Persona - Liverpool's Captain Battles Waning Influence The glaring focus that has centered around one global Liverpool icon shifted to another on Anfield's latest disappointing night. Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his subpar performances this campaign - and was consigned to the bench for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland visited on Wednesday. But it was skipper Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive bedrock as Liverpool have secured the complete set of major trophies, whose dip in performance came under the microscope during the stalemate. The Seasoned Stars and Contract Extensions Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool question asked at the notion of offering extensions to a veteran duo much nearer to the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no avoiding the brutal reality that standards have dropped worryingly for both. A Leaky Defense and A Major Overhaul Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team began a £450m summer overhaul that has yet to prove anything like its worth. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the sense of being untouchable he has carried since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also had significant difficulties, as demonstrated by his desperate handball that resulted in a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Sequence That Symbolized The Problem It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before backing away and turning away on a 25-yard shot that struck him and drifted out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of turning his back on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment. Ill fortune at the conclusion, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk courted with his uncharacteristic failure to act decisively, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage. "Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just retreats. 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 couldn't make a mistake. Every game he was dominant, but right now he's making mistakes and second-guessing himself." Statistical Decline and A Leadership Void As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber must not be discarded after winning two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a stellar Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a pale imitation 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 preserve alone in a Liverpool team full of experience, it was missing here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked bewildered to grab the game by the throat. Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the desperate measure of acting as an last-ditch attacker, was indicative of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the rule. Liverpool Lacking Spark Slot kept faith with the side that stopped a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more starting on the sidelines. The Egyptian emerged at the start of the second half as the Kop looked to him for inspiration. It failed to materialize, 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 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 beaten keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and The Road Forward Slot and his underperforming defending 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 slow, labored and short on invention. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried scant belief. Performances like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title has crumbled. But full acknowledgment 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, self-believing and threatening. 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 frustrated they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is back to the drawing board.
The glaring focus that has centered around one global Liverpool icon shifted to another on Anfield's latest disappointing night. Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his subpar performances this campaign - and was consigned to the bench for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland visited on Wednesday. But it was skipper Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive bedrock as Liverpool have secured the complete set of major trophies, whose dip in performance came under the microscope during the stalemate. The Seasoned Stars and Contract Extensions Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool question asked at the notion of offering extensions to a veteran duo much nearer to the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no avoiding the brutal reality that standards have dropped worryingly for both. A Leaky Defense and A Major Overhaul Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team began a £450m summer overhaul that has yet to prove anything like its worth. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the sense of being untouchable he has carried since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also had significant difficulties, as demonstrated by his desperate handball that resulted in a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Sequence That Symbolized The Problem It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before backing away and turning away on a 25-yard shot that struck him and drifted out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of turning his back on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment. Ill fortune at the conclusion, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk courted with his uncharacteristic failure to act decisively, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage. "Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just retreats. 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 couldn't make a mistake. Every game he was dominant, but right now he's making mistakes and second-guessing himself." Statistical Decline and A Leadership Void As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber must not be discarded after winning two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a stellar Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a pale imitation 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 preserve alone in a Liverpool team full of experience, it was missing here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked bewildered to grab the game by the throat. Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the desperate measure of acting as an last-ditch attacker, was indicative of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the rule. Liverpool Lacking Spark Slot kept faith with the side that stopped a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more starting on the sidelines. The Egyptian emerged at the start of the second half as the Kop looked to him for inspiration. It failed to materialize, 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 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 beaten keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and The Road Forward Slot and his underperforming defending 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 slow, labored and short on invention. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried scant belief. Performances like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title has crumbled. But full acknowledgment 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, self-believing and threatening. 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 frustrated they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is back to the drawing board.