Former Man United defender Mikael Silvestre has taken aim at a struggling Liverpool star.
Liverpool might have been immune to criticism last season when they cruised to a Premier League title, but Arne Slot’s second season at the club has offered plenty to scrutinise.
Not least the performances of some of the more seasoned Reds whose levels have dropped dramatically.
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A prime example of that, and the subject of Silvestre’s criticism, is actually a fellow countryman who has let his standards slip amid speculation over his future at Anfield.
Mikael Silvestre calls out Ibrahima Konate’s inconsistency
It’s easy to look back at last season with rose-tinted glasses, but the centre-back partnership of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate was genuinely hard to fault.
They were an imperious, imposing duo who offered Slot such protection at the back.
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate pictured during a game between Liverpool and Tottenham.
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This term, it hasn’t been like that. Konate hasn’t been good for Liverpool for much of this season. Admittedly, his form has picked up in recent weeks, but you just can’t count on the Frenchman in the same way anymore.
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That doubt has seeped in with Silvestre as well. He has no doubts about the Liverpool star’s quality, but his ability to deliver consistently is a concern.
He tells Get Football News France: “I think Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba is the best one. I think Ibrahima Konaté is still a bit inconsistent. We’ve seen that with Liverpool, we’ve seen that with France.
“I think Upamecano might be the one, but it’s a close call. And if one doesn’t perform the other will step in right away. I think Didier Deschamps has that luxury to call on three top defenders.”
On talent, Konate is up there with the very best, but there’s something about him this season that just doesn’t inspire confidence. That might well damage his World Cup prospects in a stacked France team.
Konate’s uncertain Liverpool future
Similar to the situation with Liverpool’s three expiring contracts last season, it has been eerily quiet on the Konate front.
His deal runs out at the end of this season, and there is nothing to guarantee he will renew. Links to Real Madrid have emerged and faded, but no agreement has been reached with Konate.
How do you think Liverpool should handle the contract situations of Konate, Van Dijk, and Gomez?
Van Dijk (2027), Gomez (2027) and Konate (2026) are all out of contract soon!
Virgil van Dijk applauds supporters after Liverpool's Premier League match against Sunderland at Anfield.
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Liverpool could be faced with a mountain to climb if he leaves in the summer, needing at least two elite centre-backs to come in.
But as Silvestre said, Konate is a top player, and one who is beloved by the Anfield faithful — or at least, he was.
Inconsistency or no, losing a player like that on a free would be a bitter pill to swallow.
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