Ibrahima Konate says he is "very sad" about Liverpool losing to Manchester United, with the Frenchman detailing what went wrong in the first half at Old Trafford
12:36, 04 May 2026
Liverpool center-back Ibrahima Konate during the Manchester United game.
Liverpool center-back Ibrahima Konate during the Manchester United game.(Image: Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Liverpool center-back Ibrahima Konate says he and his teammates were "very sad" that they couldn't get any points against Manchester United after coming back from two goals down, only for Kobbie Mainoo to net the winner.
Konate believes the difference in the first and the second half was Liverpool's aggression and mentality. The Reds' slow start was costly, even after Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo's goals soon after the interval brought the scoreline back level at 2-2, and Arne Slot's side is now six points behind Michael Carrick's.
"For sure, it's a big disappointment because I think we conceded two goals that we must not concede when we start the game," Konate told club media at Old Trafford.
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"[In] the second half we came back with a great mentality to [go] 2-2. In other moments we can hurt them but we concede a goal and that's why it's very sad for us.
"We didn't start the game very well but the second half we started very well. I think it was a big opportunity to take three points and we didn't get anything."
Liverpool in the first half was passive and looked defensively porous. After the break, with a change of system, things changed, with Manchester United taking its turn to look disjointed and error-strewn.
Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool, and Michael Carrick, interim manager of Manchester United.
Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool, and Michael Carrick, interim manager of Manchester United.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"It was just about the mentality," Konate explained. "In the first half, we lost many challenges on the pitch. When it was 50-50, most of them, Manchester United won them on the pitch.
"But in the second half, we just had to change it and change the mentality. This is what we have done and that's why we scored two good goals with our pressing, with our aggressiveness. But we needed a little bit more."
In the aftermath of the game, Roy Keane spoke about Liverpool being too easy to play against. It is something that has been leveled at the Reds a number of times this term.
"I think the worst insult for a team is when people say you're easy to play against," the pundit said on Sky Sports' coverage of the game.
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"Liverpool are, certainly, this year. They've lost 19 in total. If teams think you're easy to play against, that's an insult off the back of winning the league. That will hurt the players and the manager the most.
"If you want to stop counter-attacks, stop it at source. Decision-making, being in the right positions. The softness with Liverpool is even in their decision-making."
Liverpool.com says: The first half was a worry but both sides are flawed. We knew that already. Manchester United let Liverpool back into the contest out of nowhere, with neither team fully in control.