Liverpool’s defence has been a problem all season long.
Don’t get us wrong, the Reds’ backline isn’t terrible, but they do have a habit of going 1-0 down in games, and, ultimately, that has caught up with them as we’ve got towards the end of the campaign.
So, what’s gone wrong for Liverpool’s defence this season? Well, it’s hard to put your finger on it, because, individually, you’d say everyone has been fantastic.
Virgil van Dijk was getting Player of the Year shouts a few weeks ago, while Jarell Quansah has had so much praise this season too.
Ibrahima Konate has been a bit shaky as of late, but, all in all, he is a fantastic defender.
In fact, according to Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, Konate is one of the best defenders around, putting him ahead of both Ruben Dias and Gabriel Magalhaes when asked to compare the trio when speaking to Goal.
Ibrahima Konate is better than Ruben Dias
Frimpong shared his verdict on the three title-chasing defenders.
“Ruben Dias, Konate or Gabriel?” Frimpong was asked.
“Konate,” Frimpong said.
Ibrahima Konate isn’t consistent enough
We can see where Frimpong is coming from here.
In a lot of ways, Konate is ahead of Dias. He’s stronger, he’s faster and he’s better in the air.
However, the key for any successful centre-back is consistency, and that’s where the Frenchman lets himself down sometimes.
Indeed, Konate can either be the best defender on the pitch or an absolute liability depending on which day you catch him on, and that has proven to be an issue for Liverpool time and time again this season.
Meanwhile, Dias can always be relied upon for City, hence why Pep Guardiola’s side are on track to win the league and Liverpool seem to have fallen away.
Consistency is king when you’re a defender, and that’s something Konate needs to improve on.