Liverpool were abysmal for much of Wednesday’s game against Everton.
Second best in the physical battle and wasteful in front of goal, the Reds never looked like winning the Merseyside Derby.
Much of the trouble for Liverpool came from Everton set-pieces. Centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate simply couldn’t deal with anything coming their way.
Gary Neville spotted Jurgen Klopp going mad at his two defenders, who just failed to get a grip on proceedings.
One of the worst examples came from Everton’s opening goal of the game. Liverpool had two or three chances to clear their lines, but failed to do so, Jarrad Branthwaite eventually poking home. And analysing the goal at half-time, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was scathing of his former team.
Jamie Carragher singles out Ibrahima Konate
In fairness, Carragher could have picked out any one of a number of players on this goal, or for the whole evening.
But Konate really is the one who deserves highlighting the most. This was a hall of shame performance from the Frenchman.
To be replaced with half an hour left as a centre-back, you must have been bad. And Konate absolutely was.
The 24-year-old never looked settled from the opening minutes of the game. For the Branthwaite goal he inexplicably took the ball off Alexis Mac Allister’s boot, setting up the Everton defender.
And looking at the goal for Sky Sports, Carragher couldn’t understand what was going through Konate’s head at the time.
“Konate here, what is he doing?” blasts the pundit. “He doesn’t know where he is, just sticks a leg at it.”
What is going on with Ibrahima Konate
In truth, Konate has been poor ever since coming back from his most recent injury problem.
It’s possible that the No.5 is still carrying a bit of an issue of course, but then he shouldn’t be playing. Jarell Quansah has shown that he can be trusted in Konate’s absence and was good again when he came on this evening.
None of what we’re seeing from Ibou right now will quieten claims that he should be replaced in the summer.
If Liverpool are to mount a better title challenge next season, then they need a top centre-back they can rely on. Konate has shown that he absolutely can be that. But tonight he couldn’t have been further away.