A Diminished Presence of His Dominant Stature - Liverpool's Captain Grapples With A Dip in Form

The intense spotlight that has centered around one world-class Liverpool great switched to another on Anfield's latest frustrating night.

Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his subpar performances this season - and was consigned to the bench for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland arrived on Wednesday.

But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive foundation as Liverpool have swept up the complete set of major trophies, whose dip in performance took center stage during the 1-1 draw.

The Veteran Duo and New Deals

Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool eyebrow raised at the prospect of offering extensions to a experienced stars much closer to the end of their careers than the start.

Truly, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no escaping the brutal reality that performance has dipped worryingly for both.

Backline Issues and Summer Spending

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

Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the sense of being untouchable he has held since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018.

Van Dijk has received little support by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the renowned star has also fought his own battles, as demonstrated by his panic-stricken handball that conceded a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.

A Moment That Encapsulated The Struggle

It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a deserved lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before standing off and turning away on a 25-yard shot that struck him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson.

For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an unusual habit of turning his back on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost.

Bad luck at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his unusual failure to take charge, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising.

"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 couldn't make a mistake. Every game he was dominant, but right now he's slipping up and second-guessing himself."

Performance Metrics and Missing Leadership

As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber must not be dismissed after claiming two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a illustrious Liverpool career.

He has, though, looked a shadow of his usual dominant persona this season, with the poest ball recovery rate per game during his Liverpool career, while defensive actions are also down on last season.

And, while leadership should not be Van Dijk's exclusive domain alone in a Liverpool team packed with experience, it was missing here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked bewildered to seize the initiative by the scruff of the neck.

Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an makeshift forward, 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 Spark

Slot persisted with the side that halted 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 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.

Late drama came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only avoided defeat in stoppage time when Federico Chiesa's superb tracking back allowed him to turn Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor's shot off the line after he had rounded keeper Alisson.

Credit Due and Looking Ahead

Slot and his fading champions 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, labored and devoid of creativity. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried scant belief. Displays like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title 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 fine work of Regis le Bris.

The Black Cats were proactive, confident 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 disappointed they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally.

For Slot and Liverpool, it is a case of going back to basics.