🔗 Share this article A Diminished Presence of His Dominant Stature - Van Dijk Battles Decline The intense attention that has centered around one world-class Liverpool icon turned to another on Anfield's latest frustrating night. Mohamed Salah has come under fire for his struggles this season - and was consigned to the sidelines for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland came to town on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive bedrock as Liverpool have secured the full collection of major prizes, whose poor form came under the microscope during the stalemate. The Veteran Duo and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool eyebrow raised at the notion of offering extensions to a seasoned pair much approaching the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no escaping the harsh truth that standards have dropped alarmingly for both. Backline Issues and Summer Spending Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's scouting department embarked on a £450m summer rebuild that has not yet shown anything like its worth. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to shed the aura of invulnerability he has held since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez failing to settle at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also had significant difficulties, as highlighted by his panic-stricken handball that gave away a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. An Incident That Summed Up The Issue It was captured in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before retreating and turning his back on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of shying 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 unusual failure to take charge, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising. "Van Dijk loses the ball 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 impeccable. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and second-guessing himself." Statistical Decline 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 pale imitation of his usual imperious self this season, with the worst recoveries 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 missing here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked lost 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 emergency striker, was representative 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 Ideas Slot stayed with the side that ended 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 never came, with £125m Alexander Isak also quiet after getting off the mark with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday. Slot would have been under greater pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not deflected 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 spared embarrassment 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 fading 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 sluggish, labored and lacking in ideas. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried little conviction. Performances like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title has collapsed. But significant praise for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being rewarded for a summer of notable ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the superb management of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were adventurous, confident 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 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 a case of going back to basics.
The intense attention that has centered around one world-class Liverpool icon turned to another on Anfield's latest frustrating night. Mohamed Salah has come under fire for his struggles this season - and was consigned to the sidelines for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland came to town on Wednesday. But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive bedrock as Liverpool have secured the full collection of major prizes, whose poor form came under the microscope during the stalemate. The Veteran Duo and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool eyebrow raised at the notion of offering extensions to a seasoned pair much approaching the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no escaping the harsh truth that standards have dropped alarmingly for both. Backline Issues and Summer Spending Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's scouting department embarked on a £450m summer rebuild that has not yet shown anything like its worth. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to shed the aura of invulnerability he has held since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has not been helped by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez failing to settle at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also had significant difficulties, as highlighted by his panic-stricken handball that gave away a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. An Incident That Summed Up The Issue It was captured in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before retreating and turning his back on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of shying 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 unusual failure to take charge, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising. "Van Dijk loses the ball 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 impeccable. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and second-guessing himself." Statistical Decline 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 pale imitation of his usual imperious self this season, with the worst recoveries 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 missing here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked lost 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 emergency striker, was representative 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 Ideas Slot stayed with the side that ended 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 never came, with £125m Alexander Isak also quiet after getting off the mark with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday. Slot would have been under greater pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not deflected 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 spared embarrassment 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 fading 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 sluggish, labored and lacking in ideas. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried little conviction. Performances like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title has collapsed. But significant praise for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being rewarded for a summer of notable ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the superb management of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were adventurous, confident 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 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 a case of going back to basics.