🔗 Share this article A Fading Figure of His Imperious Self - Van Dijk Battles A Dip in Form The intense attention that has fallen upon one elite Liverpool legend shifted to another on Anfield's most recent disappointing night. Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his subpar performances this season - and was placed on the substitutes' bench for the consecutive Premier League game as Sunderland came to town on Wednesday. But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have swept up the full collection of top honors, whose struggles took center stage during the draw. The Veteran Duo and Contract Extensions Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked high-value two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool question asked at the idea of handing contracts to a experienced stars much approaching the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no escaping the stark fact that standards have dropped concerningly for both. A Leaky Defense and A Costly Refit Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's scouting department began a £450m summer overhaul that has still to demonstrate anything like value for money. Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to lose the sense of being untouchable he has held since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez failing to settle at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also struggled badly, as highlighted by his rash handball that gave away a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Sequence That Summed Up The Problem It was captured in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a deserved lead, Van Dijk losing possession before standing off and turning his back on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and drifted 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. Misfortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk courted with his unusual failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising. "Van Dijk surrenders possession 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 faultless. Every game he was imperious, but right now he's slipping up and hesitating." The Numbers and Missing Leadership As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's stature must not be dismissed after winning two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a glittering Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a pale imitation of his usual dominant persona 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 preserve alone in a Liverpool team packed with experience, it was missing here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked lost to seize the initiative by the initiative. Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the last resort of acting as an last-ditch attacker, was indicative of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the outlier rather than the norm. Liverpool Without Spark Slot persisted with the side that ended 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 pinned hopes on him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also ineffective 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 grandstand finish. A late scare came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only saved from humiliation in stoppage time when Federico Chiesa's excellent defensive sprint 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 struggling title-holders 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, unimaginative and devoid of creativity. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried minimal threat. Showings like this are the reason their title defence 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 notable ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching 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 disappointed 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 fallen upon one elite Liverpool legend shifted to another on Anfield's most recent disappointing night. Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his subpar performances this season - and was placed on the substitutes' bench for the consecutive Premier League game as Sunderland came to town on Wednesday. But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have swept up the full collection of top honors, whose struggles took center stage during the draw. The Veteran Duo and Contract Extensions Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked high-value two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool question asked at the idea of handing contracts to a experienced stars much approaching the end of their careers than the start. Indeed, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no escaping the stark fact that standards have dropped concerningly for both. A Leaky Defense and A Costly Refit Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's scouting department began a £450m summer overhaul that has still to demonstrate anything like value for money. Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to lose the sense of being untouchable he has held since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez failing to settle at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also struggled badly, as highlighted by his rash handball that gave away a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Sequence That Summed Up The Problem It was captured in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a deserved lead, Van Dijk losing possession before standing off and turning his back on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and drifted 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. Misfortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk courted with his unusual failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising. "Van Dijk surrenders possession 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 faultless. Every game he was imperious, but right now he's slipping up and hesitating." The Numbers and Missing Leadership As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's stature must not be dismissed after winning two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a glittering Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a pale imitation of his usual dominant persona 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 preserve alone in a Liverpool team packed with experience, it was missing here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked lost to seize the initiative by the initiative. Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the last resort of acting as an last-ditch attacker, was indicative of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the outlier rather than the norm. Liverpool Without Spark Slot persisted with the side that ended 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 pinned hopes on him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also ineffective 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 grandstand finish. A late scare came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only saved from humiliation in stoppage time when Federico Chiesa's excellent defensive sprint 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 struggling title-holders 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, unimaginative and devoid of creativity. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried minimal threat. Showings like this are the reason their title defence 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 notable ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching 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 disappointed they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is a case of going back to basics.