A Shadow of His Dominant Stature - Van Dijk Grapples With A Dip in Form
The intense spotlight that has centered around one global Liverpool great switched to another on Anfield's latest frustrating night.
The Egyptian forward has come under fire for his poor form this campaign - and was consigned to the sidelines for the consecutive Premier League game as Sunderland visited on Wednesday.
But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive foundation as Liverpool have swept up the full collection of top honors, whose poor form became the focus during the stalemate.
The Experienced Pair and Contract Extensions
Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool concern voiced at the prospect of handing contracts to a veteran duo much closer to the end of their careers than the start.
Truly, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no avoiding the stark fact that performance has dipped alarmingly for both.
Backline Issues and A Costly Refit
Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee embarked on a £450m summer rebuild that has yet to prove anything like value for money.
Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the sense of being untouchable he has carried since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018.
Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez failing to settle at left-back. But the renowned star has also fought his own battles, as proved by his desperate handball that resulted in a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
A Moment That Summed Up The Problem
It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a well-earned lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before retreating 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 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 take charge, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage.
"Van Dijk loses the ball 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 impeccable. Every game he was commanding, 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 stature must not be written off after claiming 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 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 packed with experience, it was missing here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked clueless to take control by the initiative.
Van Dijk's poor display, which ended with him being used as the desperate measure of acting as an last-ditch attacker, was indicative of a distinctly poor Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the norm.
A Team Without Spark
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 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 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 grandstand finish.
Stoppage-time tension 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.
Praise Deserved 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, labored and devoid of creativity. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried minimal threat. Displays like this are the reason their defense of their crown has collapsed.
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, assured 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.
