Liverpool‘s disaster has deepened, with some extent gained in opposition to Leeds United at Elland Highway solely fanning the flames which have engulfed the Merseyside outfit this season, so brittle and flimsy and vulnerable to crumbling on the slightest flash of hazard.
After the draw, shining mild Dominik Szoboszlai was breathless and incredulous, echoing, certainly, the disbelief of so a lot of a Reds persuasion throughout the globe. How has it come to this? Why are the Premier League champions so incapable of finishing the fundamentals?
Szoboszlai is the cream of a withered crop on Merseyside proper now, nevertheless it’s clear, confirmed, that he cannot do it alone. Liverpool have so many strugglers, and who higher to epitomise Slot’s aspect’s collapse than Ibrahima Konate?
Ibrahima Konate’s efficiency at Elland Highway
Konate, 26, is out of contract on the finish of the season, and whereas this must be a season of significance for the Frenchman, successful higher phrases at Anfield or canvassing his qualities for suitors from elsewhere, he has not fallen however plummeted by the wayside.
It was a unnecessary problem on substitute Wilfred Gnonto, and that sparked the house aspect’s comeback. This was hardly an outlier for the hulking centre-half.
However, away from probably the most obtrusive blunders, Konate additionally lacks any semblance of management or confidence, and certainly Slot has bought to think about dropping him now, with the star having began each single Premier League match to this point this season.
When are the errors going to cease? When is the storm going to abate? Konate, for all his woes this season, is just not the one Liverpool defender who’s flattering to deceive.
In truth, the France worldwide’s scrutiny, an intense highlight beaming onto him always, is detracting from the constant issues of one other.
Liverpool celebrity may now be dropped
Virgil van Dijk has been a pillar of energy for therefore a few years at Liverpool, however we’re receiving a bitter style of life with out such a participant within the rearguard, with the 34-year-old introduced down from his indomitable self this season.
That missed deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi on switch deadline day at the beginning of September continues to look extra damning, and sporting director Richard Hughes is certain to be weighing up a transfer for the England worldwide, whose contract at Selhurst Park expires in June, this winter, lest Liverpool’s disaster devolve into one thing even worse.
To say that Van Dijk, Liverpool’s supreme captain, must be dropped is a daring declare. Some would say brazen. Many would disagree.
Nevertheless, the Netherlands captain has been woefully out of types over the previous couple of months, and Konate’s error-strewn shows have disguised his personal shambolic efforts. Liverpool had been below the cosh at instances, however Van Dijk didn’t step ahead and make a deal with, not one.
He put Liverpool at risk with a careless headed backpass within the first half that required intervention from Konate, and he has misplaced the arrogance and readability that has been firmly fastened for the lion’s share of his illustrious Liverpool profession.
The 34-year-old was handed a 6/10 match score by The Liverpool Echo, largely attributable to his aerial dominance, however this was hardly a convincing show from the skipper, nor was it a very good illustration of his management potential.
|
Van Dijk & Konate vs Leeds United |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Match Stats |
Konate |
Van Dijk |
|
Minutes performed |
90′ |
90′ |
|
Touches |
62 |
83 |
|
Pictures (on course) |
1 (1) |
1 (0) |
|
Correct passes |
40/49 (82%) |
57/62 (92%) |
|
Possibilities created |
0 |
0 |
|
Dribbles |
0/0 |
0/0 |
|
Ball recoveries |
4 |
1 |
|
Tackles gained |
1/2 |
0/0 |
|
Interceptions |
0 |
1 |
|
Clearances |
4 |
15 |
|
Duels gained |
7/10 |
12/14 |
|
Information by way of Sofascore |
||
Neither centre-back has coated themselves in glory for Liverpool this season – removed from it – and with the January switch window quick approaching, it feels probably {that a} deal shall be explored, frantically, for Palace’s Guehi or any variety of different earmarked targets who would possibly restore some stability to a crew which have misplaced their manner – and are exhibiting little signal of escaping from the lavatory.
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