'Going to be an issue': Liverpool's credentials as PL champions thrown into doubt as 'unsustainable' claim emerges

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Liverpool’s unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end after Crystal Palace scored a late winner at Selhurst Park.The Reds looked out of sorts in a first half dominated by Oliver Glasner’s side, which was punctuated by an Ismaila Sarr goal to put the away side deservedly behind.A point looked all but rescued in the last moments of the game when Federico Chiesa came on to score an equaliser in the 87th minute, but deep into the last seconds of added time, it was undone by an Eddie Nketiah strike to give the home side the victory.It was a day when Arne Slot’s side could have easily conceded more, especially in the opening 45 minutes, if it were not for the heroics of Alisson Becker, who made five important saves during the game.Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesThose goals against Liverpool marked the seventh conceded this season in the league and the tenth in all competitions.Pundit says Liverpool’s conceding is ‘unsustainable’ for a championship-winning sideThe defensive errors of the team have come under the spotlight with Ibrahima Konate causing too many issues for his own team against Glasner’s side, which could have cost the Merseyside club more.However, it has not only been his performances at points this season, as their lack of cohesiveness and understanding of one another is an overarching issue.This issue, though, is not looking like it will go away anytime in the near future, considering Slot’s side has only been able to keep two clean sheets this season.READ MORE: Alan Shearer offers reason for Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool downturn and predicts if it will be permanentNBC pundit Robbie Mustoe is convinced this kind of defensive fragility is what will cost the previous league champions in the long run, and is unsure that they will be able to win back-to-back titles if they are not fixed.Speaking on The Two Robbie’s podcast, Mustoe explained: “Well, champions Rob don’t concede many goals, do they? I look back and champions, they’re not conceding 40 goals over really or not many of them are, it’s like less than a game goal conceding, and the rate they’re on is not sustainable.“Is it the team gelling, just finding their feet a little bit, or is this something that’s going to be an issue?“This game says for now, at least anyway, that the defensive problems we’ve seen of the goals conceded are an issue, and it comes back to hurt them in this game.

Something was going to give, wasn’t it?… We know that Palace are brilliant defensively for the most part, and Liverpool have been leaky.”Liverpool should allow Joe Gomez to startKonate’s uneven performances and lack of consistency have hurt their side so far this season, and even though he is still a world-class defender, a start for Joe Gomez might work in the next game or two.The Englishman has not been given much of a chance to start games due to his nagging injuries, which have affected his career at Liverpool, but seemingly, he looks fit enough to be in the squad.Gomez’s Arsenal cameo provided some reassurance at the back after the Gunners piled on the pressure in the final minutes of the game, and his Southampton start showed flashes of his quality.With the Champions League and league games on this week, a start against Galatasaray or Chelsea is only fair, as it gives him an option to prove himself to Slot and gives Konate a rest for one game at least.The 28-year-old still offers something to the club, and giving him minutes this week is a must, especially during a rough defensive patch for the team.