Liverpool’s disaster deepened and selecting up some extent towards Leeds United at Elland Highway solely fueled the flames which have engulfed the Merseyside aspect this season. This can be very fragile and flimsy, vulnerable to crumbling on the slightest second of hazard.
After the draw, the glowing Dominik Szoboszlai regarded breathless and incredulous, actually reflecting the disbelief of many Reds around the globe of their persuasion. How did this occur? Why are the Premier League champions so unable to good their fundamentals?
Szoboszlai is now a key determine in Merseyside’s withered crop, however it’s clear and confirmed that he can’t do it alone. There are various strugglers at Liverpool, however maybe none epitomizes the collapse of Slot’s group greater than Ibrahima Konate.
Ibrahima Konate’s efficiency at Elland Highway
The 26-year-old Konate is out of contract on the finish of the season, however this must be an necessary season for the Frenchman as he seeks higher phrases at Anfield and showcases his qualities to potential suitors from elsewhere, however fairly than being dropped, he has fallen by the wayside.
This was an pointless problem for substitute Wilfred Gnont, and it sparked a comeback for the house aspect. This was certainly not an outlier for a big centre-half.
However other than the obvious blunders, Konate lacks any semblance of management or confidence, and with a star participant who has began each Premier League sport to this point this season, Slott will little question have to contemplate eradicating Konate now.
When will there be no extra errors? When will the storm subside? Regardless of his struggles this season, Konate shouldn’t be the one Liverpool defender to be fooled by flattery.
In truth, the scrutiny positioned on the France worldwide and the extraordinary highlight that’s at all times on him distracts from the constant issues of one other participant.
Liverpool’s famous person may drop out
Virgil van Dijk has been a mainstay of Liverpool’s energy for a few years, however this season the 34-year-old has misplaced his indomitable spirit and we now have had the bitter expertise of not having a participant like that in our backline.
Lacking out on signing Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi on switch deadline day in early September seems even worse, with sporting director Richard Hughes prone to take into account shifting the England worldwide, whose contract at Selhurst Park expires in June, this winter to keep away from worsening Liverpool’s disaster.
It’s a daring declare to say that Liverpool’s best captain, Van Dijk, must be dropped. Some would possibly say it is impudent. Many individuals would not suppose so.
Nonetheless, the Dutch captain has been badly out of shape in current months, with Konate’s error-filled show overshadowing his personal woeful effort. Liverpool had been beneath Kosh at instances, however Van Dijk by no means stepped ahead to make a deal with.
He put Liverpool at risk with a careless headed again cross within the first half that required Konate’s intervention, however he lacked the arrogance and readability that had been a giant a part of Liverpool’s glittering profession.
The 34-year-old was given a match score of 6/10 by the Liverpool Echo, primarily resulting from his aerial superiority, however this was not a convincing show from a captain, nor was it a superb illustration of his management skills.
Van Dijk & Konate vs Leeds United | ||
|---|---|---|
match statistics | Solely these within the know know | van dyke |
Play time (minutes) | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
contact | 62 | 83 |
Variety of pictures (on track) | 1(1) | 1 (0) |
actual path | 40/49 (82%) | 57/62 (92%) |
A possibility has arisen | 0 | 0 |
dribble | 0/0 | 0/0 |
Variety of balls collected | 4 | 1 |
deal with win | 1/2 | 0/0 |
intercept | 0 | 1 |
clearance | 4 | 15 |
gained a duel | 7/10 | 12/14 |
Knowledge by way of Sofascore | ||
Neither centre-back has loved glory for Liverpool this season, and they’re removed from that, however with the January switch window simply across the nook, there’s prone to be a frantic search to signal Guehi from Palace, in addition to quite a few different targets that would restore stability to a group that has misplaced its means, with little signal of a break from the quagmire.
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