A Fading Figure of His Imperious Self - Liverpool's Captain Battles Decline

The intense focus that has centered around one elite Liverpool icon switched to another on Anfield's latest desperate night.

Mohamed Salah has faced examination for his poor form this season - and was consigned to the sidelines for the consecutive Premier League game as Sunderland arrived on Wednesday.

But it was leader Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive bedrock as Liverpool have secured the complete set of major trophies, whose struggles took center stage during the draw.

The Experienced Pair and New Deals

Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool concern voiced at the prospect of offering extensions to a veteran duo much closer to the end of their careers than the start.

Truly, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no avoiding the harsh truth that standards have dropped alarmingly for both.

Backline Issues and A Costly Refit

Liverpool have been susceptible in defence ever since head coach Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team began a £450m summer overhaul that has still to demonstrate anything like a good return.

Concurrently, Van Dijk has started to shed the aura of invulnerability he has possessed since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018.

Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by fellow defender Ibrahima Konate's loss of form, along with Milos Kerkez failing to settle at left-back. But the esteemed defender has also fought his own battles, as proved by his panic-stricken handball that resulted in a penalty in the heavy Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.

An Incident That Symbolized The Problem

It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a deserved lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before backing away and turning away on a 25-yard shot that deflected off him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson.

For a defender of such proven caliber, Van Dijk has an curious trait of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's detriment.

Misfortune at the end, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk provoked with his uncharacteristic failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi taking advantage.

"Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just drops off. It's the mistake. 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 A Leadership Void

As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber must not be written off 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 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 brimming with experience, it was lacking here. No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked bewildered to seize the initiative by the scruff of the neck.

Van Dijk's subpar showing, which ended with him being used as the emergency option of acting as an last-ditch attacker, was indicative of a horribly mediocre Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the rule.

A Team Lacking Inspiration

Slot stayed with the side that stopped a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more watching from the sidelines.

The Egyptian came on at the start of the second half as the Kop pinned hopes on him for inspiration. It never came, 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 even more pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not deflected in 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 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 beaten keeper Alisson.

Praise Deserved and Looking Ahead

Slot and his struggling title-holders 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 slow, unimaginative and short on invention. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried minimal threat. Displays like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title has fallen apart.

But full acknowledgment for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being reaping the benefits for a summer of notable ambition in the transfer market, coupled with the excellent coaching of Regis le Bris.

The Black Cats were proactive, self-believing and threatening.

Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is symptomatic of the manner in which they have embraced 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.