A Shadow of His Commanding Persona - Liverpool's Captain Fights A Dip in Form

The unforgiving attention that has been trained on one elite Liverpool great shifted to another on Anfield's most recent disappointing night.

Mohamed Salah has come under fire for his struggles this campaign - and was relegated to the sidelines for the consecutive Premier League game as Sunderland came to town on Wednesday.

But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive foundation as Liverpool have secured the full collection of major prizes, whose poor form took center stage during the 1-1 draw.

The Veteran Duo and Contract Extensions

Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both inked lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool question asked at the notion of offering extensions to a seasoned pair much approaching the end of their careers than the start.

In fact, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no avoiding the harsh truth that performance has dipped worryingly for both.

Backline Issues and A Major Overhaul

Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team embarked on a £450m summer refit that has not yet shown anything like its worth.

At the same time, Van Dijk has started to shed the air of invincibility he has carried since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018.

Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the renowned star has also had significant difficulties, 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 Symbolized The Problem

It was captured in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before retreating and averting his body on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson.

For a defender of such undoubted greatness, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment.

Bad luck at the conclusion, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his unusual failure to act decisively, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment.

"Van Dijk surrenders possession 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 was impeccable. Every game he was dominant, but right now he's slipping up and second-guessing himself."

The Numbers and A Lack of Command

As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree 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 faded version of his usual dominant persona 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 brimming with experience, it was absent here. No-one was motivating a team that once again looked lost to take control by the initiative.

Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an last-ditch attacker, was representative of a distinctly poor Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the rule.

Liverpool Lacking Inspiration

Slot persisted with the side that halted 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 was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also quiet 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.

Stoppage-time tension 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.

Credit Due and Looking Ahead

Slot and his underperforming defending champions ultimately had to settle for a draw 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 slow, labored and short on invention. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried little conviction. Performances like this are the reason their defense of their crown has crumbled.

But significant praise for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being seeing the results for a summer of serious ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the fine work of Regis le Bris.

The Black Cats were adventurous, assured 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 back to the drawing board.