A Fading Figure of His Commanding Persona - Van Dijk Fights A Dip in Form
The intense focus that has been trained on one global Liverpool icon shifted to another on Anfield's fresh disappointing night.
Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his subpar performances this season - and was placed on the sidelines for the second successive Premier League game as Sunderland came to town on Wednesday.
But it was skipper Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive rock as Liverpool have swept up the complete set of top honors, whose poor form came under the microscope during the stalemate.
The Experienced Pair and Renewed Terms
Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool question asked at the notion of securing the futures to a experienced stars much nearer to the end of their careers than the start.
Indeed, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no escaping the stark fact that performance has dipped concerningly for both.
A Leaky Defense and Summer Spending
Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's scouting department undertook a £450m summer overhaul that has still to demonstrate anything like a good return.
Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to lose the air of invincibility he has held since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018.
Van Dijk has not been helped by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also fought his own battles, as proved by his desperate handball that conceded a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
An Incident That Summed Up The Struggle
It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a deserved 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 undoubted greatness, Van Dijk has an curious trait of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's disadvantage.
Bad luck at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his unusual failure to take charge, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising.
"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 was impeccable. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and doubting himself."
Statistical Decline and A Lack of Command
As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber must not be dismissed after claiming two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a stellar Liverpool career.
He has, though, looked a shadow of his usual commanding presence 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 exclusive domain alone in a Liverpool team brimming with experience, it was missing here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked clueless to grab the game by the throat.
Van Dijk's poor display, which ended with him being used as the last resort 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 exception rather than the standard.
Liverpool Lacking Ideas
Slot kept faith with the side that stopped a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more observing from the sidelines.
The Egyptian emerged at the start of the second half as the Kop pinned hopes on him for inspiration. It failed to materialize, with £125m Alexander Isak also anonymous after opening his account with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday.
Slot would have been under increased scrutiny had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not deflected in off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a thrilling finale.
Late drama 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 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 devoid of creativity. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried minimal threat. Performances like this are the reason their defense of their crown 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 serious ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the superb management of Regis le Bris.
The Black Cats were positive, self-believing and threatening.
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 time for reflection.
