A Diminished Presence of His Commanding Persona - Van Dijk Battles Waning Influence
The unforgiving spotlight that has centered around one global Liverpool great turned to another on Anfield's fresh disappointing night.
Mohamed Salah has come under fire for his struggles this campaign - and was consigned to the bench for the second straight Premier League game as the Black Cats came to town on Wednesday.
But it was skipper Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive bedrock as Liverpool have swept up the complete set of top honors, whose poor form took center stage during the draw.
The Veteran Duo and New Deals
Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to high-value two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool eyebrow raised at the idea of handing contracts to a veteran duo much approaching the end of their careers than the start.
Indeed, it was a reason for joy - but now there is no denying the harsh truth that performance has dipped concerningly for both.
Defensive Vulnerabilities and Summer Spending
Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee embarked on a £450m summer rebuild that has still to demonstrate anything like a good return.
Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to shed the aura of invulnerability he has possessed since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018.
Van Dijk has not been helped by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, 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 resulted in a penalty in the heavy 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 merited lead, Van Dijk losing possession before retreating and turning his back on a 25-yard shot that struck 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 disadvantage.
Bad luck at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk courted with his uncharacteristic failure to act decisively, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising.
"Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just drops off. 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 was faultless. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and doubting himself."
Performance Metrics and Missing Leadership
As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be dismissed after winning two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a illustrious Liverpool career.
He has, though, looked a pale imitation of his usual commanding presence this season, with the lowest recovery numbers 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 brimming with experience, it was lacking here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked bewildered to grab the game by the initiative.
Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the last resort of acting as an makeshift forward, was representative of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the outlier rather than the standard.
A Team Without Spark
Slot kept faith 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 looked to him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also quiet 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 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 beaten keeper Alisson.
Praise Deserved and Looking Ahead
Slot and his fading 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, ponderous and short on invention. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried scant belief. Showings like this are the reason their title defence has fallen apart.
But full acknowledgment for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being reaping the benefits for a summer of serious ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the superb management of Regis le Bris.
The Black Cats were positive, assured and a genuine threat.
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 frustrated they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally.
For Slot and Liverpool, it is a case of going back to basics.
