A Diminished Presence of His Imperious Self - Van Dijk Battles Decline
The glaring focus that has centered around one global Liverpool great shifted to another on Anfield's latest desperate night.
The Egyptian forward has faced examination for his struggles this season - and was placed on the substitutes' bench for the consecutive Premier League game as the Black Cats came to town on Wednesday.
But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive foundation as Liverpool have swept up the full collection of top honors, whose dip in performance became the focus during the stalemate.
The Experienced Pair and New Deals
Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to high-value two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool concern voiced at the idea of handing contracts to a experienced stars much nearer to the end of their careers than the start.
Truly, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no escaping the stark fact that performance has dipped alarmingly for both.
Defensive Vulnerabilities and A Major Overhaul
Liverpool have been exposed in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee undertook a £450m summer rebuild that has yet to prove anything like a good return.
Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to shed the aura of invulnerability he has carried since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018.
Van Dijk has not been helped by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the renowned star has also had significant difficulties, as highlighted by his rash handball that gave away a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
A Moment That Symbolized The Struggle
It was captured in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before standing off and turning his back on a 25-yard shot that struck him and drifted out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson.
For a defender of such unquestionable quality, Van Dijk has an unusual habit of turning his back on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost.
Bad luck at the conclusion, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk courted with his uncharacteristic failure to act decisively, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment.
"Van Dijk loses the ball and then he just drops off. It's the wrong decision. 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 dominant, but right now he's making mistakes and hesitating."
Performance Metrics and A Lack of Command
As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's stature 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 imperious self this season, with the worst recoveries per game during his Liverpool career, while key defensive stats 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 lacking here. No-one was rousing a team that once again looked bewildered to grab the game by the initiative.
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 outlier rather than the norm.
A Side Without Spark
Slot stayed with the side that stopped 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 turned to him for inspiration. It never came, with £125m Alexander Isak also ineffective after scoring his first 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 been turned in off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a thrilling finale.
Late drama came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only spared embarrassment in stoppage time when Federico Chiesa's excellent defensive sprint 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 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 lethargic, unimaginative and lacking in ideas. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried scant belief. Performances like this are the reason their defense of their crown has fallen apart.
But full acknowledgment for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being rewarded for a summer of clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the fine work of Regis le Bris.
The Black Cats were positive, assured and threatening.
Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is symptomatic of the manner in which they have grown into 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.
