A Fading Figure of His Commanding Persona - Van Dijk Battles A Dip in Form
The intense spotlight that has been trained on one elite Liverpool legend turned to another on Anfield's most recent disappointing night.
The Egyptian forward has come under fire for his poor form this campaign - and was placed on the sidelines for the consecutive Premier League game as the Black Cats came to town on Wednesday.
But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have collected the complete set of top honors, whose poor form became the focus during the stalemate.
The Experienced Pair and Renewed Terms
Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool question asked at the notion of handing contracts to a veteran duo much nearer to the end of their careers than the start.
Truly, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no denying the brutal reality that performance has dipped concerningly for both.
Defensive Vulnerabilities and A Costly Refit
Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team began a £450m summer refit that has yet to prove anything like its worth.
Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to lose the aura of invulnerability he has held since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018.
Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez failing to settle at left-back. But the esteemed defender has also struggled badly, as highlighted by his rash handball that resulted in a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
An Incident That Symbolized The Issue
It was captured in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a deserved lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before retreating and averting his body on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and floated out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson.
For a defender of such undoubted greatness, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of shying away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment.
Bad luck at the conclusion, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his uncharacteristic failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage.
"Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just drops off. It's the incorrect choice. 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 commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and second-guessing himself."
Performance Metrics and A Lack of Command
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 glittering Liverpool career.
He has, though, looked a faded version of his usual imperious self this season, with the lowest recovery numbers per game during his Liverpool career, while tackles and interceptions are also down on last season.
And, while leadership should not be Van Dijk's sole responsibility alone in a Liverpool team brimming with experience, it was absent here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked clueless to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.
Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the last resort of acting as an makeshift forward, was representative of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the standard.
A Team Lacking Inspiration
Slot kept faith with the side that halted a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more watching from the sidelines.
The Egyptian came on at the start of the second half as the Kop turned to him for inspiration. It failed to materialize, with £125m Alexander Isak also ineffective after scoring his first 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.
Late drama 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 dribbled past keeper Alisson.
Credit Due and Looking Ahead
Slot and his underperforming defending 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, unimaginative and short on invention. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried little conviction. Performances 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 rewarded for a summer of clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the fine work of Regis le Bris.
The Black Cats were proactive, assured and a genuine threat.
Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is indicative of the manner in which they have adapted to life in the Premier League that they will be unhappy they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally.
For Slot and Liverpool, it is a case of going back to basics.
