A Diminished Presence of His Dominant Stature - Liverpool's Captain Battles Decline
The intense attention that has fallen upon one world-class Liverpool great shifted to another on Anfield's most recent desperate night.
Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his poor form this season - and was consigned to the bench for the second successive Premier League game as Sunderland arrived on Wednesday.
But it was skipper Virgil van Dijk, a exceptional defensive bedrock as Liverpool have swept up the array of major prizes, whose dip in performance came under the microscope during the stalemate.
The Seasoned Stars and New Deals
Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to new lucrative two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool question asked at the idea of handing contracts to a seasoned pair much closer to the end of their careers than the start.
In fact, it was a cause of celebration - but now there is no avoiding the harsh truth that levels have fallen alarmingly for both.
A Leaky Defense 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 refit that has yet to prove anything like value for money.
Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the sense of being untouchable he has held since his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018.
Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez failing to settle at left-back. But the esteemed defender has also had significant difficulties, as proved by his desperate handball that conceded a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
A Moment That Encapsulated The Problem
It was exemplified in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a merited lead, Van Dijk surrendering the ball before retreating 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 proven caliber, Van Dijk has an curious trait of shying away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment.
Misfortune at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his unusual failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising.
"Van Dijk gives the ball away 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 dominant, but right now he's making mistakes and second-guessing himself."
The Numbers and A Leadership Void
As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's pedigree must not be dismissed after winning 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 imperious self this season, with the lowest recovery numbers 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 exclusive domain alone in a Liverpool team full of experience, it was missing here. No-one was motivating a team that once again looked clueless to take control by the throat.
Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the last resort of acting as an makeshift forward, was representative of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the rule.
A Team Lacking Spark
Slot persisted 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 turned to him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, 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 increased scrutiny had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not taken a deflection off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a grandstand finish.
Stoppage-time tension came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only saved from humiliation 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.
Praise Deserved and The Road Forward
Slot and his struggling title-holders ultimately had to accept the point knowing it could have been worse, with Alisson lucky 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. Displays like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title has collapsed.
But huge credit for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being seeing the results for a summer of serious ambition 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 telling 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 a case of going back to basics.
