On another frustrating night at Anfield, the attention shifted from Mohamed Salah to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, as the Dutch defender’s worrying dip in form overshadowed the 1-1 draw against Sunderland.
Salah, benched for a second Premier League game in a row due to poor recent performances, avoided the spotlight this time. Instead, van Dijk — once regarded as an unbeatable defensive force — faced heavy criticism for another disappointing display.
A Decline Hard to Ignore
Both Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, signed new two-year deals in the summer, and fans widely supported the decision. But halfway into the season, both stars appear far from their prime, raising serious concerns for Liverpool’s title defence.
Liverpool’s backline has looked unstable since Arne Slot and the recruitment team spent £450m in the summer. Despite the investment, the defence has only become more fragile—made worse by Ibrahima Konaté’s slump and Milos Kerkez’s struggles to adapt at left-back.
Van Dijk, for years the club’s defensive leader, has shown uncharacteristic errors. His handball against PSV, which gifted the visitors a penalty, and his decision-making against Sunderland have highlighted his major dip in confidence.
Costly Mistakes Against Sunderland
Sunderland’s opener came after van Dijk gave the ball away, backed off instead of pressing, and turned his back on Chemsdine Talbi’s long-range effort—something the Dutchman has been criticised for before.
Former England captain Steph Houghton said:
“Van Dijk gives the ball away and then backs off. It’s the wrong decision. He needs to go to the ball.”
Jamie Redknapp also added:
“Last season, he was flawless. Now he’s hesitant and making mistakes.”
The statistics back it up: his recoveries per game, tackles, and interceptions have all dipped to their lowest levels in his Liverpool career.
Leadership Missing on the Pitch
Despite being the captain, van Dijk hasn’t been able to lift the team when they needed inspiration. Liverpool played slowly, lacked energy, and appeared lost, making their recent win over West Ham feel like an exception rather than a resurgence.
Salah’s introduction in the second half brought hope—but little impact. Even new signing Alexander Isak failed to spark life into the attack.
Liverpool Narrowly Avoids Defeat
Liverpool were lucky not to lose all three points. A Nordi Mukiele deflection brought them level, but Sunderland continued pushing. Federico Chiesa’s brilliant clearance in stoppage time prevented Wilson Isidor from scoring a dramatic winner.
Sunderland, meanwhile, earned praise for their fearless approach under manager Régis Le Bris. With 23 points and a spot in sixth place, they look fully competitive in the Premier League — and could easily have left Anfield with more.
A Tough Road Ahead for Slot and Liverpool
For Arne Slot and his struggling side, the performance raised more questions than answers. With the team lacking structure, ideas, and confidence, Liverpool’s title hopes look to be slipping away quickly.
Now more than ever, van Dijk and Salah must rediscover their best form — or Liverpool’s season could unravel further.
