The France international played his part in last season's success but his start to the current campaign is too poor to ignore
Plenty of people wanted to talk about Alexander Isak before, during and after Liverpool's chaotic clash with Newcastle on Monday night. Arne Slot wasn't one of them, though.
When asked about his club's interest in the Swedish striker after the dramatic 3-2 win at St. James' Park, Slot told : "I think the story should be about Hugo Ekitike. He has been with us for three games now and scored three goals. So, this is not the place to talk about anything other than that, although I can understand why you would ask the question."
Slot knows full well how big a talking point Isak's strike has become. It has become the saga of the summer and the media frenzy won't die down until the dispute is resolved one way or another. However, the game on Tyneside really wasn't about Isak – at least not from Liverpool's perspective. Slot doesn't necessarily need the Swedish striker to arrive at Anfield before the summer transfer window closes, as Ekitike delivered more evidence of how capable he is of leading the line.
What is painfully imperative, though, is that the Reds stop procrastinating and sign Marc Guehi – because continuing to count on Ibrahima Konate could cost them their Premier League title.
Getty Images Sport'Ibou is of the highest standard'
Konate's partnership with Virgil van Dijk was integral to Liverpool winning a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title last season. In fact, replacing Jarell Quansah with Konate at half-time in the opening-day win at Ipswich Town was one of the best decisions Slot made during their 2024-25 campaign – and he made several.
"Defensively, 'Ibou' is of the highest standard," the former Feyenoord boss said midway through the season. "He's fast, he's strong, he wins duels. He can cover for his team-mates as well if needed. "He's a centre-back who, without even touching the ball, is impressive because he is so strong and tall."
Konate was certainly immense in every way in numerous key contests and the jovial Frenchman only further endeared himself to Liverpool fans when he revealed in January that he had been carrying a minor knee injury for some time. "I can die for this team, it's fine," he said before the Champions League clash with Lille.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Sometimes people think only Virgil plays'
However, for all his attributes, Konate remains an accident waiting to happen. No matter how well he's playing, there's always the risk of him doing something stupid – which is precisely why former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp lost faith in him towards the end of his tenure..
When it comes to decision-making, he's just not in the same class as Van Dijk – which is why it was curious to hear him talk about trying to learn as much as possible from his captain and yet complain about his good work being overshadowed by the Dutchman's dependability.
"It's crazy how many Man of the Match [awards] I could get this season," Konate told in April. "It's very good to play with Virg because he is a very good player, but sometimes people who watch the game think it’s only Virgil who plays.
"No, I am playing as well. I've had a great game as well, but no, but because it's Virgil. I’m not jealous, but watch the game, and it will tell you the truth."
Getty Images SportMore of a hindrance than a help
Konate clearly feels underappreciated at Anfield, which is why talks over a contract extension have dragged on for so long. Indeed, with the 26-year-old having just 10 months left on his current deal, there is now a very real risk of Konate following in the footsteps of former team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold by running down his contract before leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid.
The truth of the matter is, though, that he would be no great loss. Van Dijk has often had to carry Konate through games – and Monday's win at Newcastle was just the latest case in point. As Slot pointed out, the game at St. James' Park wasn't really football. It was more a set-piece street fight and "had nothing to do with tactics or good play".
The Reds boss was, therefore, proud of the way in which his side managed to just about survive the aerial onslaught and eke out a vital victory thanks to an injury-time goal from 16-year-old substitute Rio Ngumoha.
"Newcastle were so close to scoring the 3-2 but we stood strong," he said in his post-match press conference. "Virgil, Ali (Alisson Becker) and Ibou – they helped us a lot in these moments."
Slot was never going to call Konate out for the disastrous nature of his display – but to claim that he had somehow made a positive contribution to the win was pushing it. Just like the Bournemouth game the weekend before, Konate hadn't been a help, he'd been a hindrance.
Getty Images Sport'He's been all over the place'
As Thierry Henry pointed out on , the contrast in quality between Konate and Van Dijk at Newcastle had been stark.
As well as winning nine aerial duels (Konate won just two – fewer than even Milos Kerkez) and making 13 clearances (Konate had just five), Van Dijk also had to repeatedly instruct his central defensive partner where to go and what to do. And to little avail.
Before the match began, the presumption was that Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back would be the weak link in Liverpool's defence. But it was actually the man stationed immediately to his left.
Truth be told, Konate was lucky not to be sent off during the second half and, at one point during the first period, he was embarrassingly bullied in the air by Newcastle's makeshift centre-forward Anthony Gordon, so it came as no surprise to see him get nowhere near the ball when he tried to challenge Dan Burn for the Nick Pope punt that led to Newcastle's equaliser.
"I want my centre-back to go and win that," Carragher fumed on . "But he was more interested in grabbing his [opponent's] arm. He has been all over the place [this season]. He was not at the races at all tonight. I absolutely shudder to think where Liverpool would be without Virgil van Dijk."
And this is what should be troubling Slot right now.
