A Shadow of His Commanding Persona - Liverpool's Captain Battles Waning Influence

The glaring spotlight that has centered around one elite Liverpool legend shifted to another on Anfield's fresh frustrating night.

Mohamed Salah has been under scrutiny for his poor form this campaign - and was placed on the bench for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland visited on Wednesday.

But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive bedrock as Liverpool have secured the complete set of top honors, whose poor form came under the microscope during the 1-1 draw.

The Veteran Duo and New Deals

Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with barely a Liverpool concern voiced at the prospect of securing the futures to a experienced stars much closer to the end of their careers than the start.

Truly, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no escaping the brutal reality that levels have fallen worryingly for both.

Backline Issues and A Major Overhaul

Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team undertook a £450m summer rebuild that has yet to prove anything like its worth.

Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the aura of invulnerability he has held since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018.

Van Dijk has not been helped by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez failing to settle at left-back. But the great Dutchman has also fought his own battles, as demonstrated by his rash handball that gave away a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.

An Incident That Summed Up The Struggle

It was captured in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a well-earned lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before backing away 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 unquestionable quality, Van Dijk has an peculiar tendency of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost.

Ill fortune at the finale, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his atypical failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi seizing the moment.

"Van Dijk gives the ball away 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 commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and hesitating."

The Numbers and A Leadership Void

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 faded version of his usual dominant persona this season, with the lowest recovery numbers 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 sole responsibility alone in a Liverpool team brimming with experience, it was absent here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked clueless to grab the game by the throat.

Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an last-ditch attacker, was representative of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the outlier rather than the norm.

A Side Devoid of Inspiration

Slot persisted 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 looked to him for inspiration. It failed to materialize, with £125m Alexander Isak also quiet after scoring his first with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday.

Slot would have been under greater pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not taken a deflection off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a thrilling finale.

A late scare 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 dribbled past keeper Alisson.

Credit Due and The Road Forward

Slot and his fading 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 sluggish, unimaginative and short on invention. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried little conviction. Showings like this are the reason their defense of their crown has crumbled.

But significant praise 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 adventurous, self-believing 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 grown into life in the Premier League that they will be disappointed they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally.

For Slot and Liverpool, it is time for reflection.