Time to Split the Pair? Slot Faces a Big Call on Van Dijk and Konate
Liverpool’s season has unfolded like two different films spliced together. The early cut was slick: seven straight wins across competitions, late goals, momentum, belief. Then came the twist. A setback against Crystal Palace ushered in a much grimmer chapter, and after the 3-2 reverse at Brentford the Reds have now lost four Premier League matches on the spin. A 5-1 thumping of Eintracht Frankfurt is the lone bright spot in the last six outings, but it hasn’t masked the growing pressure on Arne Slot.
Pardew’s verdict: chemistry off at the back
Alan Pardew, speaking to the Daily Express, suggested Liverpool’s senior centre-halves looked at odds with one another during the defeat at Brentford. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have been a formidable duo in recent years, but by their own lofty standards this campaign hasn’t clicked. The distances aren’t right, the recovery runs feel delayed, and the communication isn’t as crisp. At some point, Slot has to decide whether loyalty to a partnership is costing points—because right now, it looks like it might be.
Thin depth, big decisions
Context matters. Giovanni Leoni, the only centre-back addition, suffered a long-term injury on debut—no help there. Joe Gomez has been a trusted lieutenant but hasn’t always had the fitness luck to string together long stretches. It’s left Slot juggling minutes without the luxury of a seamless rotation. With more depth, one of van Dijk or Konate could have been managed through this dip rather than forced to play through it.
There’s also the looming contract situation. It’s been widely reported that Konate’s deal is up at season’s end, with Real Madrid long linked as admirers. That uncertainty rarely helps a backline. If Liverpool believe a refresh is unavoidable, the cleanest route may be to cash in—or simply move on—and reset the partnership around van Dijk.
Transfer fix: Guehi ticks the boxes
Marc Guehi feels like the Premier League-ready solution: front-foot defender, mobile, calm on the ball, captain’s temperament at Crystal Palace. Competition for his signature is inevitable, but he fits the profile of what Liverpool’s back four needs. Secure Guehi, add another squad option behind him, and suddenly the Reds look less fragile when the schedule bites.
Tactics now, recruitment later
Short term, Slot can help his centre-backs by tightening the distances in midfield, protecting the channels, and resisting the urge to leave them in footraces. A braver rotation call—resting Konate or van Dijk for a spell—wouldn’t be a panic move; it would be smart, modern squad management. The message has to be clear: standards are non-negotiable, reputations aren’t a shield.
Long term, Liverpool’s splashy summer on Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak won headlines, but the spine still needs steel. If the recruitment team deliver a centre-half of Guehi’s calibre and greater depth behind him, this wobble looks like a blip rather than a theme. Punters eyeing form and fixtures will be watching closely—our take on the market movers and more can be found via the best betting sites.
Ultimately, it comes down to decisiveness. Keep faith in a pairing that’s underperforming, or refresh before a title defence slips away. Right now, the sensible play is a bold one: separate van Dijk and Konate, stabilise the base, and give this Liverpool side the platform it needs to start steamrolling again.
