Ex-Liverpool star tears into Konate after Palace defeat

Michael Owen Questions Ibrahima Konate as Liverpool Suffer First Setback

Arne Slot’s Liverpool entered the Premier League season as defending champions, starting in relentless fashion with five consecutive victories. Yet questions about rhythm and sharpness persisted, with performances often appearing less convincing than results suggested.

Those concerns came into sharper focus at Selhurst Park, where Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace ended Liverpool’s unbeaten run and underlined their own credentials with a 2-1 victory.

Palace Extend Impressive Run

Palace’s triumph not only preserved their own remarkable 18-match unbeaten streak but also reaffirmed their reputation as one of the league’s most tactically disciplined outfits. Goals from Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah secured a deserved win, with Federico Chiesa’s late equaliser offering only fleeting hope for the visitors.

The Eagles’ structure and aggression unsettled Liverpool, who lacked fluency throughout. For Slot, the loss carried a wider implication than a solitary defeat – it exposed potential vulnerabilities that could shape the months ahead.

Photo: IMAGO

Owen’s Concerns Over Konate

In the aftermath, former Liverpool striker Michael Owen was candid in his assessment. Speaking as a pundit, he directed particular criticism towards Ibrahima Konate, who endured a challenging evening against Palace’s dynamic front line.

Owen remarked that Konate “didn’t know what he was doing” in the first half, highlighting defensive lapses that have surfaced more than once this campaign. While acknowledging the temptation to attribute errors to fatigue, Owen dismissed tiredness as an excuse, noting that several players had been rotated in midweek.

For a side aiming to retain the title, the scrutiny is inevitable. Owen’s words resonated not merely as post-match analysis, but as a reminder of the fine margins that define elite-level defending.

Defensive Depth Under Pressure

Liverpool’s defensive concerns have been compounded by the long-term injury suffered by Giovanni Leoni, the summer recruit from Parma, who faces up to a year on the sidelines following a debut setback. That absence leaves Slot with limited options at centre-back, magnifying the importance of Konate rediscovering form quickly.

With Liverpool’s attacking quality unlikely to be questioned, the balance of their campaign may hinge on stability at the back. Slot must navigate the coming weeks without the defensive reinforcement he had planned, while ensuring that performances from his established centre-backs reach the consistency required of champions.

Slot Faces Early Test

For now, one defeat does not derail Liverpool’s title defence. Yet the manner of the loss at Selhurst Park will linger. Palace capitalised on moments of hesitation, and the defensive frailties that surfaced cannot be ignored.

Slot’s challenge is not only to restore momentum but also to ensure that criticism of Konate becomes a short-lived talking point rather than a recurring theme. With fixtures ahead offering little respite, Liverpool’s response will provide an early measure of their resilience.

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