Slott must dismiss Liverpool star with 0 tackles at 6/10

Liverpool’s crisis deepened and picking up a point against Leeds United at Elland Road only fueled the flames that have engulfed the Merseyside side this season. It is extremely fragile and flimsy, prone to crumbling at the slightest moment of danger.

After the draw, the sparkling Dominik Szoboszlai looked breathless and incredulous, certainly reflecting the disbelief of many Reds around the world of their persuasion. How did this happen? Why are the Premier League champions so unable to perfect their fundamentals?

Szoboszlai is now a key figure in Merseyside’s withered crop, but it is clear and proven that he cannot do it alone. There are many strugglers at Liverpool, but perhaps none epitomizes the collapse of Slot’s team more than Ibrahima Konate.

Ibrahima Konate’s performance at Elland Road

The 26-year-old Konate is out of contract at the end of the season, but this should be an important season for the Frenchman as he seeks better terms at Anfield and showcases his qualities to potential suitors from elsewhere, but rather than being dropped, he has fallen by the wayside.

This was an unnecessary challenge for substitute Wilfred Gnont, and it sparked a comeback for the home side. This was by no means an outlier for a large centre-half.

But apart from the most obvious blunders, Konate lacks any semblance of control or confidence, and with a star player who has started every Premier League game so far this season, Slott will no doubt have to consider removing Konate now.

When will there be no more mistakes? When will the storm subside? Despite his struggles this season, Konate is not the only Liverpool defender to be fooled by flattery.

In fact, the scrutiny placed on the France international and the intense spotlight that is always on him distracts from the consistent problems of another player.

Liverpool’s superstar could drop out

Virgil van Dijk has been a mainstay of Liverpool’s strength for many years, but this season the 34-year-old has lost his indomitable spirit and we have had the bitter experience of not having a player like that in our backline.

Missing out on signing Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi on transfer deadline day in early September looks even worse, with sporting director Richard Hughes likely to consider moving the England international, whose contract at Selhurst Park expires in June, this winter to avoid worsening Liverpool’s crisis.

It is a bold claim to say that Liverpool’s greatest captain, Van Dijk, should be dropped. Some might say it’s impudent. Many people wouldn’t think so.

However, the Dutch captain has been badly out of form in recent months, with Konate’s error-filled display overshadowing his own woeful effort. Liverpool were underneath Kosh at times, but Van Dijk never stepped forward to make a tackle.

He put Liverpool in danger with a careless headed back pass in the first half that required Konate’s intervention, but he lacked the confidence and clarity that had been a big part of Liverpool’s glittering career.

The 34-year-old was given a match rating of 6/10 by the Liverpool Echo, mainly due to his aerial superiority, but this was not a convincing display from a captain, nor was it a good representation of his leadership abilities.

Neither centre-back has enjoyed glory for Liverpool this season, and they are far from that, but with the January transfer window just around the corner, there is likely to be a frantic search to sign Guehi from Palace, as well as a number of other targets that could restore balance to a team that has lost its way, with little sign of a break from the quagmire.