🔗 Share this article A Shadow of His Imperious Self - Van Dijk Battles Decline The intense focus that has fallen upon one global Liverpool legend turned to another on Anfield's fresh disappointing night. The Egyptian forward has been under scrutiny for his struggles this season - and was placed on the substitutes' bench for the second successive Premier League game as Sunderland visited on Wednesday. But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive rock as Liverpool have secured the full collection of top honors, whose struggles came under the microscope during the stalemate. The Veteran Duo and Renewed Terms Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed high-value two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool eyebrow raised at the prospect of securing the futures to a experienced stars much closer to the end of their careers than the start. In fact, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no denying the brutal reality that standards have dropped concerningly for both. Defensive Vulnerabilities and A Costly Refit Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee undertook a £450m summer overhaul that has still to demonstrate anything like a good return. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to shed 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 loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the renowned star has also fought his own battles, as proved by his rash handball that gave away a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Symbolized The Struggle It was captured in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away 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 unquestionable quality, Van Dijk has an unusual habit of turning his back on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost. Ill fortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his uncharacteristic failure to take charge, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising. "Van Dijk gives the ball away 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 couldn't make a mistake. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's slipping up and hesitating." Performance Metrics and A Lack of Command As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's stature must not be discarded after securing 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 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 full of experience, it was absent here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked lost to take control by the initiative. Van Dijk's poor display, which ended with him being used as the desperate measure 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 exception rather than the standard. A Side Lacking Inspiration Slot kept faith 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 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 ineffective after opening his account 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 thrilling finale. Stoppage-time tension came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only spared embarrassment 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 beaten keeper Alisson. Credit Due and Looking Ahead 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 lethargic, ponderous and lacking in ideas. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried little conviction. Showings like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title 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 superb management of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were positive, confident 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 adapted to 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 back to the drawing board.
The intense focus that has fallen upon one global Liverpool legend turned to another on Anfield's fresh disappointing night. The Egyptian forward has been under scrutiny for his struggles this season - and was placed on the substitutes' bench for the second successive Premier League game as Sunderland visited on Wednesday. But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive rock as Liverpool have secured the full collection of top honors, whose struggles came under the microscope during the stalemate. The Veteran Duo and Renewed Terms Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed high-value two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool eyebrow raised at the prospect of securing the futures to a experienced stars much closer to the end of their careers than the start. In fact, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no denying the brutal reality that standards have dropped concerningly for both. Defensive Vulnerabilities and A Costly Refit Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee undertook a £450m summer overhaul that has still to demonstrate anything like a good return. At the same time, Van Dijk has started to shed 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 loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the renowned star has also fought his own battles, as proved by his rash handball that gave away a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. A Moment That Symbolized The Struggle It was captured in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away 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 unquestionable quality, Van Dijk has an unusual habit of turning his back on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost. Ill fortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his uncharacteristic failure to take charge, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising. "Van Dijk gives the ball away 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 couldn't make a mistake. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's slipping up and hesitating." Performance Metrics and A Lack of Command As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's stature must not be discarded after securing 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 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 full of experience, it was absent here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked lost to take control by the initiative. Van Dijk's poor display, which ended with him being used as the desperate measure 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 exception rather than the standard. A Side Lacking Inspiration Slot kept faith 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 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 ineffective after opening his account 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 thrilling finale. Stoppage-time tension came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only spared embarrassment 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 beaten keeper Alisson. Credit Due and Looking Ahead 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 lethargic, ponderous and lacking in ideas. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried little conviction. Showings like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title 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 superb management of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were positive, confident 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 adapted to 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 back to the drawing board.