Liverpool drew 1-1 with Sunderland, Van Dijk's form is worrying.
Liverpool dropped points against Sunderland when Van Dijk's mistake led to a goal in the 67th minute; the defense was fragile after a £450 million overhaul, and Salah continued to be on the bench.
In the 67th minute, a misplaced pass from Virgil van Dijk opened up a shot from 25 meters by Chemsdine Talbi, the ball deflecting off the 34-year-old center-back and leaving Alisson helpless. Liverpool only managed to salvage a point against Sunderland thanks to an own goal by Nordi Mukiele, in a match that clearly exposed the captain's decline and the disarray of the entire system.
The climax: a mistake, a turning point in the match.
In a deadlock situation, Van Dijk made a passing error and instinctively turned his back when faced with danger, allowing Talbi to deflect the ball into the net. This was a stark contrast to the almost untouchable center-back who had been the cornerstone of Liverpool's peak.
The home side escaped defeat thanks to an own goal by Mukiele, but the scenario could have been worse: substitute Wilson Isidor nearly silenced Anfield if not for a goal-line save by Federico Chiesa.
The defense system is hollow after a £450 million overhaul.
Liverpool have undergone a £450 million overhaul, but the new look hasn't patched up the void in the center of the pitch. Van Dijk – an icon since 2018 – is no longer an impenetrable barrier. Individual errors are becoming more frequent: from the handball that led to a penalty in the heavy defeat against PSV Eindhoven, to a direct mistake against Sunderland.
Arne Slot even had to push Van Dijk up to play as a makeshift striker at the end of the match – a detail that shows the team's lack of ideas, not just in the defense.
Portrait of a leader at a crossroads
Both Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah signed two-year contracts in the summer, but the signs of decline are now clear. Salah continues to be benched due to his poor form, while Van Dijk is under the harshest scrutiny after a series of mistakes.
Professional voices have been raised. Former England captain Steph Houghton commented that Van Dijk “made the wrong decision the moment he lost possession and disrupted the entire defensive system.” Jamie Redknapp argued that the center-back is losing confidence, making mistakes repeatedly, and no longer maintaining the dominance he had last season.
Downward trend viewed through the lens of data.
According to the statistics mentioned, Van Dijk is having the lowest number of ball recoveries since joining Liverpool; his tackling and interception statistics have decreased significantly. On the pitch, The Kop almost completely lack a consistent leader, especially in the chaotic moments after making mistakes.
Overall picture: slow, lacking ideas.
Not only Van Dijk, but Liverpool's attacking picture is also lackluster. Salah is disappointing, and expensive new signing Alexander Isak is underwhelming. The moments of brilliance that once led the team to major titles are now rare, while Sunderland plays with confidence and flair.
The meaning of a draw
A 1-1 draw was the result Liverpool had to accept on a day when their captain lost an internal battle – a battle against his own decline. Given his contributions, Van Dijk cannot be judged by just a few matches, but currently, every moment is testing his character and Liverpool's ability to rebuild their identity.
