🔗 Share this article A Fading Figure of His Commanding Persona - Van Dijk Grapples With A Dip in Form The unforgiving attention that has been trained on one world-class Liverpool icon shifted to another on Anfield's most recent desperate night. The Egyptian forward has been under scrutiny for his poor form this season - and was consigned to the bench for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland came to town on Wednesday. But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive bedrock as Liverpool have collected the complete set of top honors, whose poor form came under the microscope during the stalemate. The Veteran Duo and Contract Extensions Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool concern voiced at the idea of offering extensions to a experienced stars much closer to the end of their careers than the start. Truly, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no avoiding the brutal reality that levels have fallen alarmingly for both. Defensive Vulnerabilities and A Costly Refit Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team embarked on a £450m summer rebuild that has not yet shown anything like its worth. Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to shed the air of invincibility he has carried since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has received little support by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also had significant difficulties, as highlighted by his rash handball that gave away a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Encapsulated The Struggle It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before backing away and turning away on a 25-yard shot that hit 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 his back on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment. Bad luck at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his atypical failure to take charge, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage. "Van Dijk surrenders possession and then he just drops off. 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 couldn't make a mistake. Every game he was dominant, but right now he's erring and second-guessing himself." Performance Metrics and Missing Leadership As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be discarded 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 shadow of his usual commanding presence 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 exclusive domain alone in a Liverpool team packed with experience, it was lacking here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked bewildered to seize the initiative by the throat. Van Dijk's poor display, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an emergency striker, was symptomatic of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the norm. A Side Without Spark Slot kept faith with the side that halted a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more observing from the sidelines. The Egyptian was introduced 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 getting off the mark with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday. Slot would have been under increased scrutiny had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not taken a deflection 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 excellent defensive sprint 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 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, labored and lacking in ideas. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried little conviction. Displays like this are the reason their defense of their crown has fallen apart. But full acknowledgment 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 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 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 unforgiving attention that has been trained on one world-class Liverpool icon shifted to another on Anfield's most recent desperate night. The Egyptian forward has been under scrutiny for his poor form this season - and was consigned to the bench for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland came to town on Wednesday. But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive bedrock as Liverpool have collected the complete set of top honors, whose poor form came under the microscope during the stalemate. The Veteran Duo and Contract Extensions Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool concern voiced at the idea of offering extensions to a experienced stars much closer to the end of their careers than the start. Truly, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no avoiding the brutal reality that levels have fallen alarmingly for both. Defensive Vulnerabilities and A Costly Refit Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team embarked on a £450m summer rebuild that has not yet shown anything like its worth. Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to shed the air of invincibility he has carried since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has received little support by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also had significant difficulties, as highlighted by his rash handball that gave away a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Encapsulated The Struggle It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before backing away and turning away on a 25-yard shot that hit 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 his back on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment. Bad luck at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his atypical failure to take charge, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage. "Van Dijk surrenders possession and then he just drops off. 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 couldn't make a mistake. Every game he was dominant, but right now he's erring and second-guessing himself." Performance Metrics and Missing Leadership As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be discarded 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 shadow of his usual commanding presence 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 exclusive domain alone in a Liverpool team packed with experience, it was lacking here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked bewildered to seize the initiative by the throat. Van Dijk's poor display, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an emergency striker, was symptomatic of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the norm. A Side Without Spark Slot kept faith with the side that halted a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more observing from the sidelines. The Egyptian was introduced 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 getting off the mark with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday. Slot would have been under increased scrutiny had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not taken a deflection 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 excellent defensive sprint 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 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, labored and lacking in ideas. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried little conviction. Displays like this are the reason their defense of their crown has fallen apart. But full acknowledgment 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 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 disappointed they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is a case of going back to basics.