Gary Neville's Brutal Verdict on Ibrahima Konaté After Dominic Calvert-Lewin Clash

In a scathing assessment, football pundit Gary Neville delivered a damning verdict on Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté following the Frenchman's controversial clash with Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin during a heated Merseyside Derby.

The incident occurred in the 57th minute of Liverpool's 2-0 victory over their crosstown rivals at Goodison Park. Konaté, attempting to block Calvert-Lewin's run, appeared to lead with his elbow, catching the Everton forward high on the chest. Referee Michael Oliver waved play on, but VAR reviewed the challenge and opted not to intervene, leaving Calvert-Lewin incensed and demanding retribution.

Speaking on his Stick to Football podcast, Neville didn't hold back. "Konaté got away with one there. That was a red card all day long. Leading with the elbow? That's not football; that's thuggery," he stated. The former Manchester United captain highlighted Konaté's physicality as a double-edged sword, praising his aerial dominance but criticizing his disciplinary record. "He's a monster in the air, but he can't keep escaping bookings or worse. Liverpool are lucky VAR bottled it."

Neville's comments echo growing concerns over Konaté's temperament. The 26-year-old has accumulated eight yellow cards this season, with two dismissals already. Liverpool manager Arne Slot defended his player post-match, calling it a "robust challenge" inherent to the derby intensity, but admitted the club would review the footage internally.

Calvert-Lewin, nursing the blow, later posted on social media: "Battle scars from a proper derby. We'll be back stronger." Everton boss David Moyes labeled it "reckless," fueling debates on refereeing consistency in the Premier League.

Neville concluded: "Konaté needs to sort his head out, or he'll cost Liverpool big time. Talent like his shouldn't be wasted on the sidelines." The verdict has sparked divided fan reactions online, with Liverpool supporters decrying pundit bias and neutrals calling for stricter enforcement.

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