Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher described one Reds player as “shocking” during their 4-2 win at home to Bournemouth on Friday evening.
Arne Slot’s champions weren’t perfect against the Cherries, allowing a 2-0 lead to slip after te break, but they eventually got over the line after late goals from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah.
Hugo Ekitike opened the scoring, netting on his Premier League debut for Liverpool, while Cody Gakpo also scored with a trademark stride coming in off the left wing.
It wasn’t a night where too many Reds players caught the eye hugely, though, especially during a period in which Antoine Semenyo scored twice during the second half.
Speaking live on Sky Sports [via The Daily Mail] after Semenyo had bagged his second goal of the night, Carragher lambasted Ibrahima Konate for his role in it:
“Oh my God. He’s been absolutely shocking tonight, Konate.”
A night to forget for Konate
Konate never quite felt at the races by his standards on Friday, with one wayward early backpass flying past Alisson and out for a corner.
There were other occasions when his use of the ball and decision-making felt shaky, too, and he needed Virgil van Dijk nearby to help mop up the danger.
In fairness to Konate, too, he was in an unenviable position for Semenyo’s second goal, with Liverpool losing possession and being broken on at pace.
The Frenchman had several Cherries players to worry about, but ultimately, he ended up not closing down Semenyo, who buried a finish past Alisson.
It was far from Konate’s best night in a Liverpool shirt, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is a fantastic player who remains a great long-term option for the Reds.
The Frenchman has been linked with a move away this summer, with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain among the clubs backed to snap him up, but losing him at this point in his career would be a big blow.
Here’s hoping Konate is back to his best for a potentially feisty trip to Newcastle a week on Monday – Liverpool may need him to be!
