Liverpool star blamed for Crystal Palace loss after 'horrendous' display - 'Spread like a disease'
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Real Madrid are reportedly one of the sides interested in signing the 26-year-old if he does not sign a new contract at Liverpool.Amid the ongoing transfer speculation, Konate has endured an inconsistent start to the season.READ MORE: Crystal Palace star hits out at Liverpool decision after Premier League forced to intervene - 'Justice'READ MORE: Alexis Mac Allister sends 'disappointing' message to Liverpool fans after Arne Slot fitness updateWhile he impressed in victories over the likes of Arsenal and Everton, he has also put in some shaky performances defensively.And this continued in the Reds’ loss to Crystal Palace, as he struggled when up against Eagles frontman Jean-Philippe Mateta.Arne Slot’s men fell to a 2-1 defeat against Palace despite Federico Chiesa scoring an 87th minute equaliser, as Eddie Nketiah struck a 97th minute winner for the home side as the reigning Premier League champions endured an off day in the capital.Nicol, who won four league titles, the European Cup and three FA Cups during his own Liverpool career, was not impressed by his old club’s performance at Selhurst Park.And taking aim with their defensive display, he insisted that Konate was at the heart of the problem.“It would be really harsh to pull one person out, but I think the man that was at the start of it was Konate,” he said on ESPN. “He had an absolutely, unbelievably horrendous first half.“He couldn’t pass the ball properly, he kept giving fouls away, he got booked, he’s trying to fight Mateta.
They exploit mistakes from the opposition and then they get at you quickly going forward.“Only some poor finishing, particularly from Mateta, is the reason that Liverpool were still in this game at all…“The truth of the matter is that all of the things Liverpool didn’t do well today are the same things they haven’t done well all season… Liverpool’s backline just doesn’t look composed at all.“Yes, you would hope the midfield can stop the opposition getting at the backline as often as it does. But at the end of the day the backline is there to do the job and right now it doesn’t look comfortable anytime it is asked to defend - whether it is today or the previous games.“Liverpool might be sitting top of the league still but Arne Slot still has a lot of questions that need answering that he hasn’t quite found the answer to yet.”Nicol was not the only former Liverpool player to voice their concern at Konate’s display, with Owen also taking issue with his performance in the first half as he pointed out it was not an isolated below-par performance."I don't know whether it was tiredness, but they rested a fair few players in midweek in the Carabao Cup,” he said, as quoted by SPORTbible.
We are early in the season, I'd be hesitant to blame it on [tiredness]."I mean, Konate in the first half didn't know what he was doing. I can't say that it was because of rustiness or tiredness.“We've seen one or two performances like that from him this season that have been quite similar.“I wouldn't use that excuse, I would give praise to Crystal Palace, they're a proper team.“They've beaten Liverpool in the Community Shield, it wasn't a fluke.