“Familiar story” for “awful” Liverpool as patience runs out with Konate

The media labelled Liverpool as “awful” after the 3-3 draw at Leeds, with Ibrahima Konate not helping their “brittle” nature this season.

The Premier League champions are anything but that right now, blowing 2-0 and 3-2 leads at Elland Road on Saturday evening.

Here’s the standout media reaction from Liverpool’s latest poor result.

It was yet another damaging night for the Reds and Slot…

David Lynch gave an honest and fair assessment, with Liverpool’s struggles continuing:

“Even when Liverpool were controlling things up to 2-0 tonight, they were still about half-decent at best. Then it was a familiar story of awful errors, weakness, and dropped points.

“The question is: do we really believe this is the best this collection of players can muster?”

The Telegraph‘s Mike McGrath described Liverpool as “brittle,” following yet another collapse:

“On paper, Liverpool are unbeaten this week. That would tell only half the story. Yes, the Premier League champions did not taste defeat here in Yorkshire but this thrilling match showed how brittle they are.

[…]

“Arne Slot, the Liverpool head coach, celebrated wildly at earning a point against Sunderland but this draw was at the opposite end of the spectrum.

“But this is also where Liverpool are at the moment, with no victories taken for granted anymore.”

Jonathan Wilson of the Guardian compared last season’s Liverpool to the shadow of the team they are currently:

“Last season, there was a coldly efficient streak to Liverpool.

“They rolled out a series of unremarkable 2-0 wins, a title rooted in unfussy competence. This season could hardly be more different; they are neither unfussy nor competent.

“They led 2-0 and, four minutes into stoppage time, they led 3-2, and yet still they didn’t win it. It was tremendous fun, but Arne Slot will have hated it.”

Speaking on Sky Sports, Gary Neville focused on Liverpool’s ability to “implode” this season:

“Liverpool, you just can’t trust them.

“You thought it could happen. Arne Slot can’t believe it. It’s a mystery that continues. His team just implode.”

Patience has run out with Konate…

The Athletic’s James Pearce was deeply unimpressed was another error-prone performance from the Frenchman:

“Players in the final year of their contract usually raise their game to earn the best possible deal either at their current club or elsewhere.

“Konate has fallen to pieces. Leeds looked beaten at 2-0, Gnonto was running the ball out of play, he just needed to stay on his feet.”

Olympic gold medalist and Liverpool fan Sam Quek also let her feelings be known on Konate:

“I’m finding it really, really hard to stay positive on Konate. He could easily have caused a goal vs Sunderland too with his mistakes.

“These aren’t individual random errors. It’s becoming a consistent pattern.”

Similarly, Josh Williams was another who has lost patience with Liverpool’s No. 5:

“Still not over Konate.

“So much harder to win when one of your centre-backs keeps setting fire to the house.”

Gregg Evans of The Athletic feels Konate has been Liverpool’s “most inconsistent” player this season:

“Konate is a shadow of his former self this season and every mistake seems to be punished.

“He dropped his head when the decision was given and was also a part of the problem for the third goal as Liverpool conceded from another corner after it looked like Dominik Szoboszlai had spared their blushes.

“Defensive errors have been a theme of this season for the champions with Konate the most inconsistent player in the team.”