Gary Neville suggested Arne Slot had become ‘annoyed’ by the performance of one Liverpool star in the champion’s 2-1 defeat by Chelsea on Saturday.
The Reds had been attempted to bounce back from back-to-back defeats by Crystal Palace and Galatasaray heading into the international break.
Instead, Slot’s side fell to a third defeat in a week to leave the Dutchman which much to ponder over the break.
Moises Caicedo had given Chelsea a first half lead with a superb strike from the edge of the penalty area.
Liverpool levelled in the second half through Cody Gakpo’s close range finish, but were undone in stoppage time when Estevao struck at the back post to earn Chelsea victory.
Speaking during the match on Sky Sports, former Man United defender Neville highlighted centre back Ibrahima Konate as a player who had been frustrating Slot with his work on the ball.
Gary Neville suggested Arne Slot was ‘annoyed’ with Ibrahima Konate against Chelsea
Neville noted Konate’s lack of ball progression in the match, suggested it hindered Liverpool
Konate was substituted in the 56th minute for Curtis Jones, with Slot deciding to move central midfielder Ryan Gravenberch back into the centre back position alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Neville suggested it had been a reaction to Konate’s display, with the Frenchman hindering Liverpool with his lack of ball progression.
‘If you watch Konate on the ball at the start of the second half, he was just walking with it,’ Neville said on Sky Sports.
‘It was frustrating and annoying me, to be honest.
‘I think he was annoying Arne Slot as well because he’s decided to get someone on is better on the ball at the back but can’t defend as well. He’s going all in.’
Slot’s substitution initially proved a successful one, with Liverpool equalising through Gakpo just minutes after the change.
Speaking post-match, Slot addressed Konate’s substitution with the Liverpool boss confirming the defender had sustained an injury.
However, he confirmed the change had already been one he was considering, noting how Liverpool had need to create more from Konate’s position.
Ryan Gravenberch was ultimately moved to centre back with Konate suffering an injury
Slot admitted he already considered the change to help Liverpool create more from centre back
‘I don’t know if it is a big injury, but what I do know is he limped a little bit and when I asked him he said he felt his quad a little bit,’ Slot said.
‘Then, for me, all alarm bells go off because in another sprint you never know if that is going to go good.
‘It was also already a substitution I had in mind, maybe for a few minutes or a little bit later, because the right centre-back had a lot of ball possession and we needed to create from that position. We all know Ryan [Gravenberch] is quite good in that.
‘It might be OK that he went off early enough but it was clear I had to take him off because he was limping.’
Konate’s loss of form has proved concerning for Liverpool in recent weeks, with the defender making crucial errors in possession against both Crystal Palace and Galatasaray.
It comes amid speculation over his future, with the defender having entered the final year of his Liverpool contract.
Konate has been linked with a possible move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
