A Shadow of His Imperious Self - Liverpool's Captain Fights Waning Influence
The intense attention that has fallen upon one world-class Liverpool great switched to another on Anfield's latest desperate night.
The Egyptian forward has been under scrutiny for his struggles this season - and was relegated to the bench for the second successive Premier League game as the Black Cats came to town on Wednesday.
But it was skipper Virgil van Dijk, a unmatched defensive bedrock as Liverpool have swept up the complete set of major prizes, whose struggles became the focus during the stalemate.
The Seasoned Stars and Renewed Terms
Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed high-value two-year deals in the summer, with scarcely a Liverpool eyebrow raised at the idea of handing contracts to a seasoned pair much approaching the end of their careers than the start.
In fact, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no avoiding the stark fact that standards have dropped concerningly for both.
A Leaky Defense and Summer Spending
Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since manager Arne Slot and the club's transfer committee embarked on a £450m summer overhaul that has still to demonstrate anything like its worth.
Simultaneously, Van Dijk has started to shed the air of invincibility he has possessed since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018.
Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by defensive partner Ibrahima Konate's dramatic dip, along with Milos Kerkez not finding his feet at left-back. But the esteemed defender has also struggled badly, as highlighted by his desperate handball that conceded a penalty in the heavyweight Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
A Sequence That Summed Up The Problem
It was captured in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a deserved lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before backing away and averting his body on a 25-yard shot that struck him and looped out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson.
For a defender of such undoubted greatness, Van Dijk has an unusual habit of turning away on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's cost.
Bad luck at the conclusion, yes, but it was a situation Van Dijk invited with his atypical failure to make a decisive move, Sunderland's Talbi capitalising.
"Van Dijk surrenders possession and then he just retreats. It's the wrong decision. 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 erring and hesitating."
Statistical Decline and Missing Leadership
As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's caliber must not be written off after securing 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 dominant persona this season, with the worst recoveries 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 sole responsibility alone in a Liverpool team brimming with experience, it was missing here. No-one was motivating a team that once again looked lost 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 emergency striker, was symptomatic of a deeply underwhelming Liverpool performance - which made Sunday's win at West Ham seem like the outlier rather than the norm.
A Side Without Spark
Slot persisted with the side that halted a run of nine losses in 12 games at London Stadium, Salah once more starting on the sidelines.
The Egyptian was introduced at the start of the second half as the Kop pinned hopes on him for inspiration. It never came, with £125m Alexander Isak also anonymous after scoring his first with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday.
Slot would have been under greater pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not taken a deflection off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a thrilling finale.
A late scare came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only avoided defeat 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 Looking Ahead
Slot and his struggling title-holders ultimately had to accept the point knowing it could have been worse, with Alisson blessed 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, ponderous and devoid of creativity. Even the traditional late rally after the equaliser carried scant belief. Performances like this are the reason their attempt to retain the title has collapsed.
But full acknowledgment for the Reds' struggles on Wednesday must be given to Sunderland, who are being rewarded for a summer of clear intent in the transfer market, coupled with the superb management of Regis le Bris.
The Black Cats were positive, confident and dangerous.
Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is symptomatic of the manner in which they have adapted to life in the Premier League that they will be disappointed they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally.
For Slot and Liverpool, it is back to the drawing board.