🔗 Share this article A Diminished Presence of His Commanding Persona - Van Dijk Battles Decline The intense focus that has fallen upon one global Liverpool great turned to another on Anfield's most recent desperate night. Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his struggles this campaign - and was relegated to the sidelines for the consecutive Premier League game as the Black Cats arrived on Wednesday. But it was skipper Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have swept up the array of major prizes, whose struggles came under the microscope during the stalemate. The Experienced Pair and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool eyebrow raised at the notion of securing the futures to a seasoned pair much closer to the end of their careers than the start. In fact, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no avoiding the harsh truth that standards have dropped worryingly for both. A Leaky Defense and Summer Spending Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee embarked on a £450m summer overhaul that has still to demonstrate anything like a good return. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the air of invincibility he has held since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has received little support by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the esteemed defender has also had significant difficulties, as proved by his rash handball that resulted in a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. An Incident That Summed Up The Issue It was exemplified 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 struck him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such unquestionable quality, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of shying away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment. Misfortune at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his uncharacteristic failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment. "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 was impeccable. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's erring and hesitating." Statistical Decline and Missing Leadership 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 faded version of his usual imperious self this season, with the lowest recovery numbers per game during his Liverpool career, while key defensive stats are also down on last season. And, while leadership should not be Van Dijk's sole responsibility alone in a Liverpool team packed with experience, it was missing here. No-one was motivating a team that once again looked clueless to seize the initiative by the initiative. Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the emergency option 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 anomaly rather than the norm. A Team Lacking Spark Slot persisted with the side that halted a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more starting on the sidelines. The Egyptian came on at the start of the second half as the Kop looked to him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also anonymous after opening his account with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday. Slot would have been under greater pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not taken a deflection off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a thrilling finale. A late scare came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only avoided defeat 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 settle for a draw 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, ponderous and lacking in ideas. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried scant belief. Displays like this are the reason their title defence has crumbled. But full acknowledgment for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being seeing the results for a summer of clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were proactive, assured 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 frustrated they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is time for reflection.
The intense focus that has fallen upon one global Liverpool great turned to another on Anfield's most recent desperate night. Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his struggles this campaign - and was relegated to the sidelines for the consecutive Premier League game as the Black Cats arrived on Wednesday. But it was skipper Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have swept up the array of major prizes, whose struggles came under the microscope during the stalemate. The Experienced Pair and New Deals Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool eyebrow raised at the notion of securing the futures to a seasoned pair much closer to the end of their careers than the start. In fact, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no avoiding the harsh truth that standards have dropped worryingly for both. A Leaky Defense and Summer Spending Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee embarked on a £450m summer overhaul that has still to demonstrate anything like a good return. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the air of invincibility he has held since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has received little support by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the esteemed defender has also had significant difficulties, as proved by his rash handball that resulted in a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. An Incident That Summed Up The Issue It was exemplified 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 struck him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such unquestionable quality, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of shying away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment. Misfortune at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his uncharacteristic failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment. "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 was impeccable. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's erring and hesitating." Statistical Decline and Missing Leadership 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 faded version of his usual imperious self this season, with the lowest recovery numbers per game during his Liverpool career, while key defensive stats are also down on last season. And, while leadership should not be Van Dijk's sole responsibility alone in a Liverpool team packed with experience, it was missing here. No-one was motivating a team that once again looked clueless to seize the initiative by the initiative. Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the emergency option 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 anomaly rather than the norm. A Team Lacking Spark Slot persisted with the side that halted a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more starting on the sidelines. The Egyptian came on at the start of the second half as the Kop looked to him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also anonymous after opening his account with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday. Slot would have been under greater pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not taken a deflection off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a thrilling finale. A late scare came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only avoided defeat 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 settle for a draw 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, ponderous and lacking in ideas. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried scant belief. Displays like this are the reason their title defence has crumbled. But full acknowledgment for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being seeing the results for a summer of clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were proactive, assured 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 frustrated they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is time for reflection.