Liverpool star now ‘a much bigger problem than Salah’

Liverpool haven’t had their best form this season, but Arne Slott’s side have won their last two games (against Inter Milan and Brighton & Hove Albion) and have kept a clean sheet in both games.

The Premier League champions have been in the spotlight this season, having been relegated from fighting to defend their title to fighting for form good enough to keep pace with the pack in the top half of the table.

It wasn’t good enough, and some of the performances lacked consistency and intensity, were inexcusable and far from last season’s level.

Who better to sum up this downturn than Ibrahima Konate, who has had so many poor and error-filled performances?

Konate’s poor form

Liverpool have one of the most talented teams in Europe and Konate falls into that category, having been hailed by analyst Raj Chohan as ‘one of the best centre-backs in the world’ during the 2023-24 season.

But there are too many holes in his game. The 26-year-old has been an utter disaster this season, playing a central role in a porous defense.

Konate was a pillar of strength for Slott’s team last season and was the perfect counterpoint alongside Virgil van Dijk. And when we take a closer look at the slump since the summer, it’s interesting to note that the defender actually retains many of his core qualities.

The problem, of course, is that Konate has made too many mistakes on the field and is suffering from a crisis of confidence.

This sparked a flurry of criticism, much of it well-deserved. However, Konate is a monster centre-half and has proven himself as a key member of Premier League winning teams.

Will he be able to bounce back and prove he’s worth his salt like he once was? Recent results suggest he may be on track to achieve that, with Liverpool actually boasting two clean sheets on the trot after their disastrous capitulation at Elland Road.

Slott also backed his defensive deputy after Liverpool beat Inter 2-0 at the San Siro, saying he wanted to “highlight” Les Bleus’ talent. Then, in the Premier League against Brighton, Konate won 10 games, completing a run of consecutive clean sheets.

Is he turning a corner? Probably so. And Konate is not the only dropout in the Merseyside side this season, with another red man at risk of replacing the weakest link in Liverpool’s team at centre-back.

Liverpool’s new biggest problem

You might think Mohamed Salah’s tumultuous few weeks at Liverpool continue here. Since making his explosive statement against Leeds in early December, the Egyptian attacker has made it perfectly clear that his relationship with Slott has broken down after being left off the bench for three games in a row.

He was then left out of Liverpool’s trip to Italy and was on the bench against Brighton, but he came on from the bench and made a huge impact.

All those of Liverpool’s persuasion remain hopeful that Salah will remain at the club until at least the end of the season, and he could continue to play a key role in the club’s chances of success by the end of the game.

But prominent Liverpool fan spokesperson John Sullivan said left-winger Kodi Gakpo was becoming a “much bigger problem than Salah”. Gakpo is currently injured and has missed the club’s recent wins. The slot recently changed its system and this diamond-shaped setup has brought signs of success. Gakpo is absent due to injury.

Gakpo, 26, has not faced any criticism this season. He has always been criticized for his one-dimensional play on the left, lacking nuance and flair, and for leaving fans saddened by the sale of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich in the summer.

The Dutchman remains a prolific player with five goals and four assists this season, but there is no doubt that his customary cut-inside approach on the left is becoming tired, especially considering he averages one shot on target every two Premier League appearances according to SofaScore.

Despite such an impressive influx of world-class attacking talent, Liverpool have lost some of their dynamism in the final third this season. Despite their urgent need for a centre-half, there is a reason why FSG are keen on Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.

Consider the recent resurgence of Milos Kerkes as further evidence of Gakpo’s problematic presence as the only full-fledged left winger in Liverpool’s squad. Kerkes, 21, joined Liverpool from Bournemouth in the summer but is a hostile left-back in a system with slots in decline, using flattery to deceive.

But he is progressing now and has gone from strength to strength in the last few games for Liverpool. Against Brighton he was given license to advance and as a result the athletic Hungarian won eight duels.

Although Salah is getting older, he remains one of the most powerful threats in the world and it is vital that we continue to use him for the remainder of the season. But Gakpo is underperforming in other ways, and indeed suffers from stylistic flaws that can’t be fixed without a big-money, Diaz-style contract.

While Konate could return to form as a permanent starter for Liverpool, Gakpo may not be suited for a permanent role on the wing and Liverpool need to resolve this issue quickly.