A Fading Figure of His Dominant Stature - Liverpool's Captain Battles A Dip in Form
The intense attention that has centered around one world-class Liverpool legend turned to another on Anfield's most recent disappointing night.
Mohamed Salah has been under scrutiny for his subpar performances this campaign - and was consigned to the sidelines for the consecutive Premier League game as the Black Cats arrived on Wednesday.
But it was skipper Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive foundation as Liverpool have secured the complete set of major prizes, whose struggles took center stage during the 1-1 draw.
The Seasoned Stars and Renewed Terms
Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool question asked at the idea of offering extensions to a veteran duo much approaching the end of their careers than the start.
Indeed, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no escaping the stark fact that standards have dropped alarmingly for both.
Defensive Vulnerabilities and Summer Spending
Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's scouting department began a £450m summer overhaul that has not yet shown anything like a good return.
Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to shed the sense of being untouchable he has held since his £75m transfer 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 failing to settle at left-back. But the renowned star has also struggled badly, as proved by his panic-stricken handball that conceded a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
An Incident That Symbolized The Problem
It was exemplified in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before backing away and turning his back on a 25-yard shot that hit him and floated out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson.
For a defender of such undoubted greatness, Van Dijk has an unusual habit of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost.
Bad luck at the conclusion, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his unusual failure to take charge, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage.
"Van Dijk surrenders possession 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 impeccable. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's slipping up and second-guessing himself."
The Numbers and Missing Leadership
As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be written off after claiming two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a glittering Liverpool career.
He has, though, looked a shadow of his usual commanding presence this season, with the poest ball recovery rate 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 full of experience, it was missing here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked lost to seize the initiative by the scruff of the neck.
Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the last resort 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 anomaly rather than the norm.
A Side Without Spark
Slot stayed with the side that halted a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more starting on the sidelines.
The Egyptian emerged at the start of the second half as the Kop looked to him for inspiration. It failed to materialize, 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 dramatic ending.
A late scare 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 rounded keeper Alisson.
Praise Deserved and Looking Ahead
Slot and his struggling title-holders ultimately had to settle for a draw 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 lethargic, ponderous and short on invention. Even the customary late surge after the equaliser carried scant belief. Showings like this are the reason their defense of their crown has crumbled.
But full acknowledgment 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 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 back to the drawing board.