A Shadow of His Dominant Stature - Van Dijk Grapples With Waning Influence
The unforgiving spotlight that has centered around one global Liverpool great turned to another on Anfield's fresh frustrating night.
Mohamed Salah has come under fire for his struggles this campaign - and was relegated to the bench for the consecutive Premier League game as Sunderland visited on Wednesday.
But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive bedrock as Liverpool have collected the array of major prizes, whose struggles took center stage during the 1-1 draw.
The Seasoned Stars and Renewed Terms
Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed high-value two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool question asked at the notion of handing contracts 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 escaping the harsh truth that performance has dipped concerningly for both.
Backline Issues and Summer Spending
Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's scouting department undertook a £450m summer refit that has yet to prove anything like its worth.
Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to lose the air of invincibility he has carried since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018.
Van Dijk has received little support by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the renowned star has also had significant difficulties, as proved by his rash handball that resulted in a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
An Incident That Summed Up The Problem
It was captured 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 his back 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 curious trait of shying away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment.
Ill fortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his atypical failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment.
"Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just drops 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 faultless. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's slipping up and second-guessing himself."
The Numbers and A Leadership Void
As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be dismissed 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 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 brimming with experience, it was absent here. No-one was motivating a team that once again looked clueless to grab the game by the throat.
Van Dijk's poor display, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an emergency striker, was symptomatic of a distinctly poor Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the norm.
Liverpool Devoid of Inspiration
Slot kept faith with the side that stopped 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 pinned hopes on him for inspiration. It failed to materialize, 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 been turned in 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 saved from humiliation in stoppage time when Federico Chiesa's excellent defensive sprint 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 settle for a draw 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, unimaginative and devoid of creativity. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried scant belief. Performances like this are the reason their title defence has fallen apart.
But significant praise 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 superb management of Regis le Bris.
The Black Cats were positive, assured and dangerous.
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.