A Fading Figure of His Dominant Stature - Liverpool's Captain Battles A Dip in Form
The intense focus that has centered around one global Liverpool great turned to another on Anfield's most recent desperate night.
Mohamed Salah has been under scrutiny for his poor form this campaign - and was placed on the substitutes' bench for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland visited on Wednesday.
But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive bedrock as Liverpool have collected the full collection of top honors, whose poor form became the focus during the 1-1 draw.
The Seasoned Stars and Contract Extensions
Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed high-value two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool question asked at the idea of securing the futures to a seasoned pair much closer to the end of their careers than the start.
Indeed, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no avoiding the harsh truth that performance has dipped worryingly for both.
Defensive Vulnerabilities and A Major Overhaul
Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's scouting department embarked on a £450m summer refit that has still to demonstrate anything like a good return.
At the same time, Van Dijk has started to lose the sense of being untouchable he has carried since his £75m move 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 great Dutchman has also fought his own battles, as demonstrated by his panic-stricken handball that conceded a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
A Sequence That Summed Up The Struggle
It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before backing away 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 proven caliber, Van Dijk has an unusual habit of turning his back on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's disadvantage.
Misfortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his atypical failure to act decisively, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage.
"Van Dijk loses the ball and then he just backs off. 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 couldn't make a mistake. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's slipping up and second-guessing himself."
Statistical Decline and A Lack of Command
As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be written off after winning two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a stellar Liverpool career.
He has, though, looked a pale imitation of his usual commanding presence this season, with the poest ball recovery rate 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 exclusive domain alone in a Liverpool team full of experience, it was missing here. No-one was motivating a team that once again looked bewildered to take control by the throat.
Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an makeshift forward, was indicative of a distinctly poor 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 was introduced at the start of the second half as the Kop turned to him for inspiration. It never came, 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 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.
Stoppage-time tension 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 beaten keeper Alisson.
Praise Deserved and Looking Ahead
Slot and his struggling title-holders ultimately had to take a 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 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 huge credit 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 fine work of Regis le Bris.
The Black Cats were positive, confident and threatening.
Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is telling 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 time for reflection.
