Arne Slot makes Ibrahima Konate admission after Liverpool throw away win at Leeds

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Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballArne SlotIbrahima Konate conceded a needless penalty when Liverpool were 2-0 up at Leeds, where the Reds went on to draw 3-3Arne Slot admits Ibrahima Konate has been “on the crime scene” too often this season after another mistake from the centre-back sparked an unlikely Leeds United comeback on a night of more frustration for Liverpool.The Reds were comfortably ahead through a Hugo Ekitike double when Konate made a needless challenge on Leeds substitute Wilfried Gnonto for a penalty eventually awarded after a pitchside check from referee Anthony Taylor.It shifted the momentum of the game with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting from the spot and Anton Stach equalising shortly afterwards.And although Dominik Szoboszlai put Liverpool back in front, Ao Tanaka capitalised on further poor set-piece defending from the Reds in the sixth minute of additional time to earn the home side a 3-3 draw at Elland Road on Saturday evening.And asked about Konate’s error, Slot said: “Unfortunately for him, he does a lot of things well but he has been a bit too much on the crime scene.“That is something I have heard before saying in England. That means he’s been involved in goals we have conceded.“If you’re a centre-back, that happens in football.

It was obvious and clear there was contact.“The question is should VAR have interfered? Probably a lot of people would say that’s correct but these same people should look at some games we have played in games this season when VAR didn’t come.”Tanaka’s goal was the 10th Liverpool have conceded from a set-piece in the Premier League this season, with no team having leaked more.And with the Reds rarely threatening from dead-ball situations at the other end in the top-flight this season, Slot admits it will be difficult to climb the table if that imbalance isn’t addressed.“It is so much more than you can expect if you look at what to expect from a chance, we are talking about expected goal value,” he said.“If you look at that, we haven’t even conceded that much (xG) from set-pieces.

But if you concede in reality 10, I don’t think there’s any team in the world who can be in a higher position than we are if you concede from 10 set-pieces and haven’t scored in the Premier League once, unless you count Dominik’s free-kick (against Arsenal) or the second phase from the throw-in (at West Ham).“It’s hardly possible to be in a higher position if you concede from so many of those.“For me, it’s not about the set-up as it’s the same set-up as last season where we didn’t concede at all in the first half of the season and in this set-up there are a lot of similar players who are mainly important.“Tell me what it is? If I tell you know it’s bad luck then you might say that’s maybe a bit too much after 15 games.”