A Diminished Presence of His Imperious Self - Liverpool's Captain Battles Decline

The unforgiving attention that has been trained on one global Liverpool icon turned to another on Anfield's most recent desperate night.

Mohamed Salah has been under scrutiny for his subpar performances this campaign - and was relegated to the sidelines for the second successive Premier League game as Sunderland arrived on Wednesday.

But it was skipper Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive foundation as Liverpool have collected the array of major prizes, whose dip in performance came under the microscope during the 1-1 draw.

The Seasoned Stars and Renewed Terms

Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed high-value two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool question asked at the prospect of offering extensions to a veteran duo much nearer to the end of their careers than the start.

Indeed, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no avoiding the harsh truth that standards have dropped alarmingly for both.

Backline Issues and A Costly Refit

Liverpool have been vulnerable 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.

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

Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the renowned star has also fought his own battles, as proved by his panic-stricken handball that resulted in 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 merited lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before standing off and averting his body on a 25-yard shot that hit him and floated out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson.

For a defender of such unquestionable quality, Van Dijk has an unusual habit of shying away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment.

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

"Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just retreats. 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 faultless. Every game he was dominant, but right now he's erring and second-guessing himself."

Statistical Decline and Missing Leadership

As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's stature must not be discarded 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 shadow of his usual commanding presence 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 sole responsibility alone in a Liverpool team brimming with experience, it was missing here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked bewildered to seize the initiative by the initiative.

Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the desperate measure of acting as an makeshift forward, was indicative of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the anomaly rather than the norm.

A Side Devoid of Spark

Slot stayed with the side that ended a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more starting on the sidelines.

The Egyptian came on at the start of the second half as the Kop looked to him for inspiration. It never came, 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 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 grandstand finish.

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 The Road Forward

Slot and his struggling title-holders 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 short on invention. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried little conviction. Displays like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title has crumbled.

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

The Black Cats were adventurous, self-believing and threatening.

Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is indicative of the manner in which they have embraced 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 time for reflection.