Jamie Carragher was less than impressed with one Liverpool player during the 4-2 win over Bournemouth
Jamie Carragher.
Jamie Carragher lamented a poor performance from Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate.
(Image: Sky Sports Premier League/X)
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher criticised Ibrahima Konate for his performance against Bournemouth. The France international was described by the Sky Sports pundit as "absolutely shocking" during the last-gasp 4-2 win over the Cherries.
Arne Slot's side survived a scare at Anfield after the Cherries fought back from two goals down before a dramatic finish saw Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah drag Liverpool out of the mire. After the Dutchman made changes in the second-half, Bournemouth capitalised on the lack of balance, which saw the momentum swing in their favour.
Konate found himself out of position during the visitors' attacks, which prompted criticism from the former Reds defender.
Antoine Semenyo netted his second of the evening after a blistering counter-attack that saw Konate scrambling back to try and thwart the 25-year-old; however, he made no mistake in drilling low past Alisson Becker.
Carragher criticised the Frenchman for his positional play during Sky's coverage, saying: "They're under real pressure, it feels like a goal is coming. I mean Konate's positional play is all over the place.
"He has no idea where the Bournemouth attacking player is, the one initially before he wasn't in the right position.
"Positional-wise, he's all over the place. Bournemouth are right at the two centre-backs.. look at the amount of bodies going forward to Liverpool, there's seven or eight players ahead of the ball.
"He's running at the defence, they don't know what to do, again, what is Konate doing? He has been absolutely shocking tonight."
Then, speaking after the game, the former defender said: "It is unbelievable. Arne Slot's made those changes to make sure things like this don't happen. Fantastic from Semenyo - but Liverpool have had this problem.
"How many players were ahead of the ball - maybe eight players - when they were winning 2-1? That can't happen. It's absolutely shocking at this level.
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"For Semenyo to run that far and get his shot away is incredible - but where Konate is going? He had a really, really poor night tonight at centre-back.
"That is not right. It's not. It's not only game on top of the Community Shield - but I've watched enough football in my life. This idea that everyone bombs forward, it's not for me. I don't like it.
"At no time last week in the Community Shield did I ever feel Liverpool were in control of the game. You can draw 2-2 with Palace, that can happen.
"But it's how easy Crystal Palace could get at Liverpool, how easy it was tonight. In the first half, Bournemouth should have been at least 2-0 up at one stage.
"There is definitely a problem that Arne Slot has to solve. People say 'they need a centre-back'. A centre-back doesn't fix that. He just takes Konate's place.
"It's about the make-up of the team with two attacking full-backs and a number ten who more interested in getting on the ball than defending like Szoboszlai was last season. If Liverpool continue like that, I don't think they will win the league."