Liverpool’s rollercoaster season produced yet another dramatic twist at Elland Road, where a chaotic 3–3 draw left the Reds asking serious questions — especially about Ibrahima Konaté’s recent form.
What started as a comfortable evening quickly descended into uncertainty and frustration.
😬 The Turning Point: Konaté’s Costly Challenge
Liverpool appeared to be cruising, but everything changed when Konaté mistimed a tackle on Willy Gnonto, handing Leeds a penalty that completely flipped the momentum.
From that moment, the home side sensed weakness — and they pounced.
This latest slip came on the heels of his high-profile error against PSV, which provoked Jamie Carragher’s furious outburst where he blasted:
“I’ve had enough… that’s a sackable offence for the manager.”
And the criticism kept coming. Analyst Josh Williams took to X after the final whistle, writing:
“Still not over Konaté. It’s so hard to win when one of your centre-backs keeps setting fire to the house.”
⚡ Collapse After a Strong Start
Liverpool had gone 2–0 up thanks to Hugo Ekitike’s brilliant brace, but Leeds roared back with two goals in two minutes.
The late heartbreak came in the 95th minute when Ao Tanaka punished yet another defensive lapse from a corner.
Sky Sports summed it up by describing Leeds as “full of life” — and Liverpool simply couldn’t withstand the pressure.
And the stats reveal why:
10 set-piece goals conceded this season (only Nottingham Forest have more)
Already worse than the entire total from last season
20 Leeds touches in Liverpool’s box
xG allowed: 1.51
xG created: 1.81
Youngest Liverpool XI since March 2024
Salah benched again — third straight match
Despite winning the aerial duel count 20–16, Liverpool still failed to deal with the one header that truly mattered.
🔍 Konaté in the Spotlight
The 26-year-old remains a key figure for Liverpool’s long-term defensive plans, but his recent mistakes are drawing concern from pundits, supporters, and analysts.
As Carragher’s passionate rant highlighted last week, frustration around the centre-back is building from all angles — at a moment when Liverpool desperately needs calm heads and defensive leadership.
🧩 Slot’s Biggest Problem: Defensive Instability
Arne Slot trusted youth, rotated senior players, and benched Mo Salah again — but defensive structure remains the glaring issue.
Without stability at the back, Liverpool’s season risks slipping even further.
The path forward is clear:
👉 Fewer chaotic moments
👉 More composure in key phases
👉 And experienced defenders — including Konaté — stepping up
Liverpool still have the talent to steer the campaign back on track, but only if the back line regains its discipline.
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