🔗 Share this article A Diminished Presence of His Commanding Persona - Liverpool's Captain Fights Waning Influence The glaring attention that has centered around one world-class Liverpool icon shifted to another on Anfield's fresh desperate night. The Egyptian forward has come under fire for his subpar performances this campaign - and was consigned to the substitutes' bench for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland arrived on Wednesday. But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have secured the complete set of major prizes, whose struggles took center stage during the stalemate. The Seasoned Stars and Contract Extensions Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool concern voiced 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 cause of celebration - but now there is no escaping the harsh truth that levels have fallen alarmingly for both. Defensive Vulnerabilities and Summer Spending Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee undertook a £450m summer overhaul that has yet to prove anything like its worth. Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the aura of invulnerability he has carried since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has received little support by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also struggled badly, as highlighted by his desperate handball that gave away a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. An Incident That Summed Up The Issue It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a well-earned lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before standing off and turning away on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of shying away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost. Misfortune at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk courted with his uncharacteristic failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage. "Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just backs 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 faultless. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's erring and hesitating." Statistical Decline and A Leadership Void 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 stellar Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a faded version of his usual dominant persona 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 preserve alone in a Liverpool team full of experience, it was lacking here. No-one was inspiring 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 makeshift forward, was symptomatic of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the rule. A Team Devoid of Inspiration Slot stayed with the side that stopped a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more observing from the sidelines. The Egyptian came on at the start of the second half as the Kop turned to him for inspiration. It never came, 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 been turned in 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 saved from humiliation 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 dribbled past keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and Looking Ahead Slot and his struggling title-holders ultimately had to accept the 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 lethargic, labored and devoid of creativity. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried scant belief. Displays like this are the reason their title defence has collapsed. But full acknowledgment for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being reaping the benefits for a summer of clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were adventurous, confident and dangerous. 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 frustrated they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is back to the drawing board.
The glaring attention that has centered around one world-class Liverpool icon shifted to another on Anfield's fresh desperate night. The Egyptian forward has come under fire for his subpar performances this campaign - and was consigned to the substitutes' bench for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland arrived on Wednesday. But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have secured the complete set of major prizes, whose struggles took center stage during the stalemate. The Seasoned Stars and Contract Extensions Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool concern voiced 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 cause of celebration - but now there is no escaping the harsh truth that levels have fallen alarmingly for both. Defensive Vulnerabilities and Summer Spending Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee undertook a £450m summer overhaul that has yet to prove anything like its worth. Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the aura of invulnerability he has carried since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018. Van Dijk has received little support by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also struggled badly, as highlighted by his desperate handball that gave away a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. An Incident That Summed Up The Issue It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a well-earned lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before standing off and turning away on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson. For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of shying away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost. Misfortune at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk courted with his uncharacteristic failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage. "Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just backs 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 faultless. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's erring and hesitating." Statistical Decline and A Leadership Void 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 stellar Liverpool career. He has, though, looked a faded version of his usual dominant persona 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 preserve alone in a Liverpool team full of experience, it was lacking here. No-one was inspiring 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 makeshift forward, was symptomatic of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the rule. A Team Devoid of Inspiration Slot stayed with the side that stopped a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more observing from the sidelines. The Egyptian came on at the start of the second half as the Kop turned to him for inspiration. It never came, 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 been turned in 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 saved from humiliation 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 dribbled past keeper Alisson. Praise Deserved and Looking Ahead Slot and his struggling title-holders ultimately had to accept the 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 lethargic, labored and devoid of creativity. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried scant belief. Displays like this are the reason their title defence has collapsed. But full acknowledgment for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being reaping the benefits for a summer of clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris. The Black Cats were adventurous, confident and dangerous. 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 frustrated they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally. For Slot and Liverpool, it is back to the drawing board.