The unforgiving attention that has centered around one global Liverpool great switched to another on Anfield's most recent disappointing night.
The Egyptian forward has come under fire for his poor form this campaign - and was relegated to the substitutes' bench for the second straight Premier League game as Sunderland visited on Wednesday.
But it was captain Virgil van Dijk, a peerless defensive rock as Liverpool have secured the array of top honors, whose struggles took center stage during the draw.
The Veteran Duo and New Deals
Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both agreed to lucrative new two-year deals in the summer, with not one Liverpool question asked at the idea of offering extensions to a seasoned pair much nearer to the end of their careers than the start.
Indeed, it was a moment of optimism - but now there is no denying the brutal reality that performance has dipped worryingly for both.
Backline Issues and Summer Spending
Liverpool have been vulnerable in defence ever since boss Arne Slot and the club's scouting department embarked on a £450m summer rebuild that has still to demonstrate anything like a good return.
At the same time, Van Dijk has started to forfeit the air of invincibility he has held since his £75m switch from Southampton in January 2018.
Van Dijk has faced additional challenges by center-back colleague Ibrahima Konate's collapse in form, along with Milos Kerkez struggling to adapt at left-back. But the renowned star has also struggled badly, as demonstrated by his rash handball that gave away a penalty in the significant Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
An Incident That Encapsulated The Issue
It was encapsulated in the 67th minute on Wednesday when Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a well-earned lead, Van Dijk giving the ball away before backing away and averting his body on a 25-yard shot that struck him and drifted out of the reach of goalkeeper Alisson.
For a defender of such unquestionable quality, Van Dijk has an unusual habit of turning his back on the ball, sometimes to Liverpool's disadvantage.
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 drops off. It's the incorrect choice. 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 couldn't make a mistake. Every game he was commanding, but right now he's making mistakes and second-guessing himself."
Performance Metrics and A Leadership Void
As with Salah, a player of Van Dijk's stature must not be dismissed after winning two Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two EFL Cups in a stellar Liverpool career.
He has, though, looked a faded version of his usual imperious self this season, with the worst recoveries per game during his Liverpool career, while defensive actions are also down on last season.
And, while leadership should not be Van Dijk's exclusive domain alone in a Liverpool team full of experience, it was lacking here. No-one was motivating a team that once again looked bewildered to grab the game by the throat.
Van Dijk's difficult night, which ended with him being used as the emergency option 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 exception rather than the rule.
Liverpool Devoid of Spark
Slot persisted 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 turned to him for inspiration. It was not forthcoming, with £125m Alexander Isak also anonymous after opening his account with his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday.
Slot would have been under greater pressure had Florian Wirtz's 81st-minute shot not been turned in off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would be a dramatic ending.
Stoppage-time tension came - but at the other end. Liverpool were only saved from humiliation 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 beaten keeper Alisson.
Credit Due and The Road Forward
Slot and his underperforming defending champions 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 lethargic, ponderous and lacking in ideas. Even the typical final push after the equaliser carried little conviction. Showings like this are the reason their title defence has crumbled.
But significant praise 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 adventurous, self-believing and dangerous.
Sunderland are now sixth in the Premier League with 23 points. It is telling of the manner in which they have embraced life in the Premier League that they will be frustrated they left Anfield without adding two more to their tally.
For Slot and Liverpool, it is back to the drawing board.
