There’s no hiding from criticism after a European exit, and Jermaine Pennant has delivered a very brutal verdict on Ibou Konate following our defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
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The Reds’ Champions League marketing campaign got here to an finish with a 2-0 loss at Anfield, sealing a 4-0 combination defeat, and as at all times, particular person performances have come underneath the highlight.
Pennant delivers harsh Konate verdict
Taking to X after the match, the previous Liverpool winger didn’t maintain again when assessing the French centre-back.
He wrote: “For a premier league profitable defender and a French worldwide. As a defender your bread and butter is solely tackling and heading.
“Konate is the more serious defender I’ve seen at heading, how do you persistently miss the ball when going up for an header as a professional.”
It’s a robust assertion aimed on the 26-year-old, particularly given his significance to us all through the season and his standing as one of many first names on the teamsheet underneath Arne Slot.
Konate efficiency vs PSG tells a distinct story
Whereas criticism will at all times observe a defeat like this, the numbers from the sport counsel a much more balanced show from the Liverpool No.5.
Konate recorded 17 defensive contributions, together with 4 tackles gained, 4 interceptions and 6 clearances, whereas additionally finishing 88% of his passes throughout the 90 minutes (through Sofascore).
That defensive output aligns extra carefully with the extent we’ve seen from him in massive European video games earlier than, together with his dominant displaying towards Galatasaray within the final spherical, the place his bodily presence and studying of the sport helped us management the tie.
On the similar time, it’s honest to say that inconsistency has crept into his performances this season, with tough nights just like the away leg in Istanbul displaying that there are nonetheless areas to enhance, notably in key moments underneath stress.
For us, Pennant’s feedback really feel harsh given the general context of the sport, as a result of whereas Konate wasn’t flawless, he was removed from the most important difficulty in a aspect that finally struggled to seek out any leading edge throughout each legs.
