A Shadow of His Commanding Persona - Van Dijk Fights A Dip in Form
The unforgiving spotlight that has been trained on one elite Liverpool great shifted to another on Anfield's most recent desperate night.
Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his struggles this campaign - and was placed on the substitutes' bench for the second straight Premier League game as the Black Cats visited on Wednesday.
But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive foundation as Liverpool have swept up the array of major trophies, whose poor form came under the microscope during the stalemate.
The Experienced Pair and New Deals
Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to high-value two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool concern voiced at the prospect of handing contracts to a veteran duo much approaching the end of their careers than the start.
Indeed, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no escaping the stark fact that standards have dropped worryingly for both.
Defensive Vulnerabilities and Summer Spending
Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's scouting department undertook a £450m summer refit that has not yet shown anything like a good return.
Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the air of invincibility he has possessed since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018.
Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the renowned star has also had significant difficulties, as highlighted by his rash handball that conceded a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
A Sequence That Encapsulated The Issue
It was captured 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 hit him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson.
For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an curious trait of shying away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment.
Misfortune at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his uncharacteristic failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment.
"Van Dijk surrenders possession 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 was impeccable. Every game he was imperious, but right now he's erring and doubting himself."
Performance Metrics and A Lack of Command
As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber must not be written off after securing 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 worst recoveries 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 preserve alone in a Liverpool team full of experience, it was missing here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked lost to seize the initiative by the throat.
Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the last resort 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 exception rather than the standard.
A Team Without Ideas
Slot persisted with the side that ended a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more observing from the sidelines.
The Egyptian emerged at the start of the second half as the Kop pinned hopes on him for inspiration. It never came, 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 deflected in off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a dramatic ending.
A late scare 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 The Road Forward
Slot and his underperforming defending champions 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, ponderous and devoid of creativity. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried scant belief. Showings 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 notable ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris.
The Black Cats were proactive, confident and a genuine threat.
Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is telling of the manner in which they have grown into life in the Premier League that they will be disappointed they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally.
For Slot and Liverpool, it is time for reflection.
