Liverpool endured another frustrating night at Anfield as their 1–1 Premier League draw with Sunderland shifted the spotlight from Mohamed Salah to another club legend — captain Virgil van Dijk. Once the towering defensive force behind Liverpool’s greatest modern triumphs, Van Dijk is now fighting a worrying dip in form that was once unthinkable for a player of his stature.
For much of the season, the criticism surrounding Salah’s performances had dominated headlines, especially after he was benched again on Wednesday. But against Sunderland, it was Van Dijk who found himself scrutinised most intensely, raising uncomfortable questions about Liverpool’s ageing core and an expensive summer rebuild that has yet to deliver results.
New Contracts, New Expectations — But Declining Standards
Both Van Dijk, now 34, and Salah, 33, signed lucrative new two-year deals in the summer. At the time, the contracts were celebrated as deserved rewards for two icons who helped deliver the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Club World Cup and more. Yet just months later, their performances have dipped sharply.
Liverpool’s £450m overhaul under new head coach Arne Slot was designed to refresh the squad, but defensive vulnerabilities remain glaring. Van Dijk’s once untouchable presence has noticeably diminished, and the restructuring of the back line has offered him little protection.
Ibrahima Konaté’s dramatic loss of form, along with new signing Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back, has left Van Dijk exposed. But the Dutchman has compounded those issues with uncharacteristic mistakes — none more glaring than his panicked handball that gifted PSV Eindhoven a penalty during Liverpool’s heavy Champions League defeat.
Sunderland Goal Highlights Van Dijk’s Struggles
The pivotal moment against Sunderland came in the 67th minute. Van Dijk misplayed a pass, failed to close down Chemsdine Talbi, and then turned his back on the resulting 25-yard attempt. The shot deflected off the Liverpool captain and past Alisson, giving Sunderland the lead and exposing the uncertainty now creeping into Van Dijk’s game.
Former England captain Steph Houghton criticised his decision-making on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying:
“He needs to go to the ball. Him not making the decision means no one else knows what to do.”
Jamie Redknapp echoed similar concerns on Sky Sports, noting the contrast to Van Dijk’s dominant performances of last season:
“Right now he’s making mistakes and second-guessing himself.”
For a defender once regarded as unshakeable, these are worrying assessments.
A Decline in Defensive Output
The statistics reinforce the eye test. Van Dijk’s recovery runs, tackling numbers, and interception records are all at their lowest point since he joined Liverpool from Southampton in 2018. Even his leadership — usually a cornerstone of his game — felt absent during a match in which Liverpool looked flat, disorganised, and uninspired.
Slot’s decision to send Van Dijk forward as an emergency striker late in the match summed up the desperation of Liverpool’s performance. The Reds appeared to be searching for individual heroics rather than functioning as a cohesive unit.
Salah and Isak Fail to Spark Attack
Mohamed Salah’s introduction at the start of the second half offered hope of a turning point, but the Egyptian couldn’t impose himself. Likewise, £125m signing Alexander Isak — fresh off scoring his first Premier League goal for Liverpool — had little influence on the match.
Sunderland defended with discipline, frustrated Liverpool’s attackers, and kept the tempo of the game exactly where they wanted it.
Mukiele Own Goal Spares Liverpool — But Doesn’t Hide the Problems
Liverpool ultimately salvaged a point thanks to an 81st-minute equaliser, when a Florian Wirtz strike deflected off Nordi Mukiele and into the net. Still, the match almost ended in disaster: Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor rounded Alisson in stoppage time, but Federico Chiesa’s remarkable recovery run kept the ball out.
Even before that, Trai Hume had struck the crossbar and Omar Alderete hit the post, underlining how close Liverpool came to leaving empty-handed.
Sunderland Shine as Liverpool Struggle
While Liverpool battled inconsistency, Sunderland thrived. Manager Régis Le Bris has instilled ambition, confidence, and structure into a team that now sits sixth in the Premier League with 23 points — and left Anfield disappointed not to have taken all three.
Their aggressive pressing, composed midfield work, and disciplined defending highlighted the gap between a rising club and a champion side still searching for identity under new leadership.
Liverpool’s Title Defence in Tatters
The draw leaves Liverpool well short of the standards required for a credible title defence. Slow build-up, lack of creativity, defensive lapses, and tactical hesitancy all plague a team that once prided itself on relentlessness.
For Slot and Liverpool, the message is clear: the rebuild remains far from complete, and the performances of senior leaders like Van Dijk will determine whether the club can recover from this alarming downward spiral.
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