A shadow of his imperious self – Van Dijk fights decline

On Anfield’s most recent desperate night, one world-class Liverpool legend was thrust into a fierce new spotlight.

Mohamed Salah was called to the bench for Sunderland’s second successive Premier League game on Wednesday despite the club’s poor form this season.

Virgil van Dijk, the captain who has swept up the entire collection of major prizes, whose poor form attracted the most attention during the 1-1 draw, was the subject of conversation. Van Dijk is the unmatched defensive foundation as Liverpool have won every major award.

Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed lucrative new two-year contracts in the summer, with Liverpool’s decision to award contracts to veteran duos much sooner than the start of their careers raised eyebrows.

Indeed, it was a cause for celebration, but now there is no escaping the brutal reality that both standards have fallen alarmingly.

Since head coach Arne Slot and the club’s recruitment team started a £450m summer refit that hasn’t produced any tangible value for money, Liverpool have been vulnerable in defense.

Ibrahima Konate’s form collapse, along with Milos Kerkez’s failure to settle at left-back, have not helped Van Dijk. The great Dutchman, however, also had a bad luck, as his panic-stricken handball at Anfield demonstrated.

In the 67th minute, Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a much-deserved lead before van Dijk stood back and turned his back on a 25-yard shot that struck him and drew within the reach of goalkeeper Alisson.

Van Dijk has an unusual habit of turning his back on the ball, occasionally to Liverpool’s cost, for a defender of such undeniable greatness.

Yes, it was a bad luck situation in the end, but Van Dijk was given the opportunity with his uncharacteristic failure, Sunderland’s Talbi, to capitalize.

Van Dijk, the former England captain, said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Van Dijk gives the ball away before he just drops off.” It was the incorrect choice. He must play the ball. No one else knows what to do because they aren’t making the decision.

A player with Van Dijk’s pedigree, like Salah, should not be dismissed after claiming two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and two EFL Cups during a stellar Liverpool career.

The worst recoveries per game for his Liverpool career have been his, but he has also had the same appearance as his usual imperious self, and his tackles and interceptions are both down from last year.

And Van Dijk’s lack of leadership was apparent in this Liverpool team, which should not be his exclusive responsibility. A team that once more seemed lost and snatched the game by the neck had no one to cheer them up.

Van Dijk’s subpar performance, which resulted in him being used as the only option for an emergency striker, was a sign of a horribly subpar Liverpool performance, which made Sunday’s win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the norm.

Salah was once more watching from the stands as Slot continued his partnership with the team that ended a nine-game losing streak at London Stadium.

At the start of the second half, the Egyptian appeared as a Kop sought inspiration from him. With a salary of £125 million, Alexander Isak became unofficial after scoring his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday.

If Florian Wirtz’s 81st-minute shot had not deflected in off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would have been a grandstand finish, slot would have been under even greater pressure.

After the break, Slot and his fading stars had to accept the fact that Alisson had been fortunate to turn Trai Hume’s shot on the bar before Omar Alderete headed home after the break, which could have been worse.

Liverpool was sluggish, ponderous, and without ideas. Little conviction was found in even the customary late rally following the equalizer. Their title defense has crumbled because of these missteps.

Sunderland, who are being rewarded for a summer of serious ambition in the transfer market, coupled with Regis le Bris’ excellent management, deserves a lot of credit for the Reds’ struggles on Wednesday.

The Black Cats were optimistic, confident, and dangerous.

With 23 points, Sunderland are currently sixth in the Premier League. They will be disappointed to leave Anfield without adding two more to their tally because of how much they have grown as a team in the Premier League.