Ruthless Reality Check: Time for Liverpool to Move On from Konate
Enough sentimentality — Liverpool need to be ruthless. On current form, Ibrahima Konate isn’t hitting the standards a title-chasing defence demands, and the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City felt like the tipping point.
A bruising afternoon at the Etihad
When the tempo rises at the Etihad, you either stand tall or you get found out. Konate had one of those afternoons that centre-halves dread. A clumsy clearance cannoned into a City winger and led to a first-half penalty — thankfully, the spot-kick was saved — but the warning signs were there. Minutes later, he lost the key aerial duel with Erling Haaland for the opener, and the third arrived after he failed to close down on the flank. At this level, those are moments that kill you.
Errors you can’t excuse
Konate has all the raw tools — pace, power, aggression — but the decision-making has frayed. Body shape wrong, steps late to the first ball, lets runners drift across him: it’s the basics going missing under pressure. That’s why the knives are out. Supporters called him a ‘liability’ on social platforms and, frankly, it’s hard to argue after another underwhelming display on a big stage.
The verdict from the press box
Several outlets dished out harsh numbers, with some rating him as low as 3/10 on the day. You can argue about the exact mark, but the theme was unanimous: he struggled badly in the moments that mattered. For a side coached by Arne Slot that wants to play front foot and squeeze the pitch, your centre-backs must be immaculate when the press is breached. Konate wasn’t.
Contract noise and transfer whispers
There’s been plenty of chatter around his future, with talk that fresh terms have yet to be agreed and rumours linking him with heavyweight admirers abroad. That interest only ever truly crystallises if your form is bulletproof. Right now, it isn’t — and that’s the brutal truth.
What Liverpool must do next
The call is simple: unless there’s a sudden, sustained uptick, Liverpool should move Konate on when the opportunity arises. The standard at Anfield is unforgiving — and rightly so. If you’re serious about keeping pace with Manchester City, you can’t carry uncertainty at centre-half. Either recruit a commanding, aerially dominant partner who thrives in 1v1s, or give minutes to a defender who already fits the bill. Sentiment doesn’t win titles.
Fans, fine margins and the Slot blueprint
Slot’s Liverpool are built to press bravely and defend huge spaces. That system shines when your centre-backs are decisive and proactive. Right now, the fine margins are going the wrong way for Konate. It’s not about scapegoats — it’s about suitability and reliability in the biggest moments. If he can reset and respond, brilliant. If not, Liverpool must be decisive.
If you fancy a flutter on where the title race twists next, our rundown of the best betting sites is a solid place to start — but don’t expect a market on patience at the back; that’s in short supply on Merseyside.
Bottom line
Big clubs make big calls. After another chastening Etihad lesson, the writing looks to be on the wall: thank Konate for the service, but set a higher bar and refresh the heart of the defence. Liverpool can’t let one position become the crack that breaks the dam.
