A Shadow of His Imperious Self - Van Dijk Battles A Dip in Form

The unforgiving attention that has fallen upon one global Liverpool legend shifted to another on Anfield's fresh desperate night.

Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his poor form this season - and was relegated to the substitutes' bench for the second straight Premier League game as the Black Cats arrived on Wednesday.

But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have secured the full collection of top honors, whose struggles became the focus during the draw.

The Seasoned Stars and Contract Extensions

Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed high-value two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool concern voiced at the idea of offering extensions to a experienced stars much closer to the end of their careers than the start.

Indeed, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no avoiding the brutal reality that levels have fallen worryingly for both.

Defensive Vulnerabilities and A Major Overhaul

Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee began a £450m summer rebuild that has not yet shown anything like a good return.

Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the air of invincibility he has possessed since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018.

Van Dijk has received little support by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the esteemed defender has also struggled badly, as proved by his desperate handball that conceded a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.

A Moment That Summed Up The Struggle

It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a deserved lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before retreating and turning his back on a 25-yard shot that hit him and drifted out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson.

For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an curious trait of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's disadvantage.

Bad luck at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his unusual failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage.

"Van Dijk surrenders possession and then he just retreats. It's the incorrect choice. 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 commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and doubting himself."

Statistical Decline and A Lack of Command

As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be written off after winning two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a glittering 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 defensive actions 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 rousing a team that once again looked lost to seize the initiative by the scruff of the neck.

Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the desperate measure of acting as an emergency striker, was indicative of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the rule.

Liverpool Without Inspiration

Slot stayed 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 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 even more pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not taken a deflection 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 dribbled past keeper Alisson.

Praise Deserved and The Road Forward

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 sluggish, ponderous and lacking in ideas. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried little conviction. Displays like this are the reason their title defence has collapsed.

But huge credit for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being seeing the results for a summer of clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris.

The Black Cats were adventurous, self-believing 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 unhappy they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally.

For Slot and Liverpool, it is back to the drawing board.