There is little to suggest that Liverpool are any closer to turning a corner soon and being able to maintain a respectable level of performance. Most worryingly, there is little sign that the Reds and their manager Arne Slott will find solutions to the many problems plaguing their campaign.
Liverpool’s Premier League title defense is in tatters. Across the red streets of Merseyside, there is a reluctant acceptance that Arsenal’s top spot is out of reach. Indeed, the disparity in quality between the two teams this season suggests that Liverpool will have to settle for fewer prizes on the league front.
Liverpool have been trailing in consecutive top-flight games and it is clear that change is needed now. In fact, Liverpool are languishing in 11th place in the Premier League, scoring 18 goals and conceding 20 goals.
Defensively, things continue to be a mess and the buzz surrounding Ibrahima Konate has only intensified since the French defender’s season hit its lowest ebb after a devastating blow at Nottingham Forest.
Why Konate is a big problem for Liverpool
The 26-year-old Konate has been in great form throughout the 2024-25 season and has become a strong partner for Virgil van Dijk. Of course, he won the Premier League title and became a regular starter for Didier Deschamps’ French side.
Currently, Konate only offers remnants of previous levels. Most disappointingly, while he has proven his quality in the past, the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold next to him has exposed Konate’s problems establishing a confident build-up pattern.
But these two versions of Konate are so incredibly conflicted that it’s hard to accept that this is the same player. The talented £70,000-a-week player’s season has been dominated by mistakes and baffling decision-making, and one can’t help but wonder if he’s a little distracted by outside noise.
Konate is playing the final year of his contract at Anfield and although FSG have offered him an extension, speculation regarding Real Madrid’s interest remains and no solution has yet been found.
The season-ending injury suffered by Giovanni Leoni, who arrived from Parma for £27m this summer in his first game for the club, was a cruel blow. It’s a harmful blow. The 18-year-old’s absence has been keenly felt, especially since the transfer of Marc Gehi fell through on deadline day.
Slott has hinted that Liverpool’s focus could be further up the field this winter – intense speculation has centered on Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo – and the Reds may choose to settle for last place.
If so, the slot should give one of the club’s most talented young defenders a chance to shine.
Liverpool Academy Konate Solutions
Since joining Liverpool before the start of last season, Slott has shown a willingness to give young players a chance. Amara Naro, for example, has been given several chances at the top level, but his appearances on the major stage have left the up-and-comer in trouble, receiving red cards in both matches.
But Naro is not the only teenage centre-back who is shaping his game to compete for the senior ranks, with 19-year-old Welty Luckey also slowly making strides towards making his breakthrough after impressing in Rob Page’s development squad.
The Spanish-born defender moved to England at the age of 11 before joining Liverpool’s academy scene and has gone from strength to strength in the years since joining, now making 60 appearances for the club at each youth level.
The defender, described as a “highly rated” defender by Reds reporter Ben Boksak earlier this season, made his professional debut off the bench as Slott’s side lost 3-0 to Crystal Palace at Anfield in the Carabao Cup.
In the process, he was rewarded for his “outstanding form this season” in Premier League 2, as youth correspondent Jack Rusby put it.
A commanding and dominant defender with a promising ability to read and counter opposing attacks, Lackey has shown he can harness his power and potential and transfer it into contention against senior opponents. In this season’s Football League Trophy, Lackey impressed against the hustle and bustle of teams such as Under-21s Crewe Alexandra and Chesterfield.
Fast on the front foot, you could even say he has shades of a player like Konate, which could make adding him into the mix from a style standpoint an attractive possibility.
Wellity Lucky – EFL Trophy Stats (25/26) | |
|---|---|
Match statistics (* per match) | # |
Match (start) | 2(2) |
touch* | 90.5 |
exact path | 61.5 (88%) |
Key pass* | 0.5 |
dribble* | 1.5 |
Ball recovery rate* | 6.0 |
Tackle + Interception* | 3.0 |
clearance* | 5.5 |
Duel (win)* | 5.0 (83%) |
Data via Sofascore | |
While he may not have been a top-tier opponent, the fact that Lackey won 83% of his duels through two matches speaks to his defensive acumen. Furthermore, in his cameo against Palace last month, he completed all 22 passes he attempted despite recovering. Although the factor is small, it is still promising.
Ball recoveries are defined by the number of loose balls recovered by a player.
Slott continues to show reluctance to give Joe Gomez multiple chances, and if Konate continues to flatter and deceive, it’s certainly only a matter of time before things change.
Could that create opportunities for young players like Lackey? After all, he has already received Slott’s approval this year, and Naro’s struggles under his boss suggest that Lackey could be promoted sooner rather than later.
Dropping Lackey into the deep end may not be the best move, but if the slot can integrate him with the big boys, he could add an exciting, fresh dimension to a defense crying out for support.
Reading between the lines, it would be safe to assume that Liverpool will prioritize wide forwards this summer. In this regard, the need for academy support at the back is huge and Lackey could be a smart solution to reconnecting the link between the club and its fan base.
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