Liverpool star blamed for Crystal Palace defeat after 'unbelievably horrendous' display

Liverpool Steve Nicol and Michael Owen have both criticised Ibrahima Konate following his display in the Reds' 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace. The French international had a particularly difficult first half at Selhurst Park, continuing his inconsistent start to the season. The central defender's contract is set to expire at the end of the season, leaving his future at Anfield uncertain. Real Madrid are reportedly among the clubs interested in signing the 26-year-old if he does not renew his contract with Liverpool.

Amid the ongoing transfer rumours, Konate has had a tough start to the season. While he has shone in victories against teams like Arsenal and Everton, he has also delivered some unsteady defensive performances. This trend continued in the Reds' loss to Crystal Palace, where he struggled against Eagles striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. Arne Slot's team suffered a 2-1 defeat against Palace despite Federico Chiesa scoring an equaliser in the 87th minute. Eddie Nketiah then scored a 97th-minute winner for the home side, resulting in a disappointing day in the capital for the reigning Premier League champions.

Nicol, who won four league titles, the European Cup and three FA Cups during his time at Liverpool, was unimpressed by his former club's performance at Selhurst Park. Criticising their defensive display, he insisted that Konate was at the heart of the problem.

"It would be really harsh to pull one person out, but I think the man that was at the start of it was Konate," he said on . "He had an absolutely, unbelievably horrendous first half. He couldn't pass the ball properly, he kept giving fouls away, he got booked, he's trying to fight Mateta.

"I know Konate's a big lad but Mateta's bigger than him and you've got to use your brains. Unfortunately today Konate didn't use any brains whatsoever. So, he kicked it off and it almost kind of spread like a disease after that. Everybody giving the ball away.

"And when you give a ball away against Crystal Palace, it is really the thing they do best. They exploit mistakes from the opposition and then they get at you quickly going forward. Only some poor finishing, particularly from Mateta, is the reason that Liverpool were still in this game at all..

"The truth of the matter is that all of the things Liverpool didn't do well today are the same things they haven't done well all season... Liverpool's backline just doesn't look composed at all.

"Yes, you would hope the midfield can stop the opposition getting at the backline as often as it does. But at the end of the day the backline is there to do the job and right now it doesn't look comfortable anytime it is asked to defend - whether it is today or the previous games.

"Liverpool might be sitting top of the league still but Arne Slot still has a lot of questions that need answering that he hasn't quite found the answer to yet."

Nicol was not alone in his critique of Konate's performance, with fellow ex-Liverpool player Owen also expressing his concerns about the defender's first-half display, noting it wasn't a one-off subpar performance.

"I don't know whether it was tiredness, but they rested a fair few players in midweek in the Carabao Cup," he said. "They weren't their usual selves. We are early in the season, I'd be hesitant to blame it on [tiredness].

"I mean, Konate in the first half didn't know what he was doing. I can't say that it was because of rustiness or tiredness. We've seen one or two performances like that from him this season that have been quite similar.

"I wouldn't use that excuse, I would give praise to Crystal Palace, they're a proper team. They've beaten Liverpool in the Community Shield, it wasn't a fluke. I'd be more inclined to say Palace played very well."

Meanwhile, former Man City ace Micah Richards confessed his growing concern over Konate's form this season.

"Konate is starting to worry me a little bit," he admitted on Match of the Day. "Him and Van Dijk have been a good partnership, but his individual errors at this moment in time are just making the backline look a bit nervy.

"You know Liverpool always look good in defence. Van Dijk always marshals the backline, but they give Palace too many opportunities for no actual reason. It was just being sloppy, and that is so unlike Liverpool."