Liverpool defensive concerns deepen as Ibrahima Konate is taken off early in injury time during 2-1 defeat to Chelsea
Liverpool suffered another late heartbreak at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea secured a 2-1 win late in stoppage time handing the Reds their third defeat in just one week.
The result has left fans frustrated and increasingly concerned about the team’s confidence and defensive stability.
Amid the heartbreak, centre-back Ibrahima Konate was taken off after just 55 minutes, and Arne Slot later confirmed that the substitution was due to injury.
The Frenchman, who has struggled for consistency this season, had been under scrutiny in recent weeks, with opponents targeting him as Liverpool’s defensive weak link.
Konate’s early exit is particularly worrying given the context. Liverpool have already shown cracks in defence this season, and fans are now also anxious about the fitness of key figures such as Andy Robertson. While Konate’s performance against Chelsea was an improvement compared to previous outings, it was far from convincing, and the early substitution raised immediate alarm bells.
Slot explained the situation in his post-match press conference:
“I don’t know if it is a big injury, but what I do know is he limped a little bit and when I asked him he said he felt his quad a little bit. Then, for me, all alarm bells go off because in another sprint you never know if that is going to go good.”
“It was also already a substitution I had in mind, maybe for a few minutes or a little bit later, because the right centre-back had a lot of ball possession and we needed to create from that position. We all know Ryan is quite good in that.”
“It might be OK that he went off early enough but it was clear I had to take him off because he was limping.”
The 24-year-old’s struggles this season have been widely discussed. With his contract running down, there had been an expectation that Konate would use the campaign to prove his value to the team. Instead, his performances have highlighted the defensive frailties that Liverpool hoped to address with signings like Marc Guehi.
Saturday’s defeat also fits a troubling pattern for the Reds, who have now conceded last-minute goals in consecutive matches. It is a reversal of the trend earlier this season, where Liverpool were known for their resilience and ability to snatch late wins.
Liverpool supporters watching saw the team’s confidence dip once more after conceding the first goal, with defensive lapses and lack of cohesion contributing to another dramatic late collapse.
Slot’s comments suggest a careful approach moving forward. Konate will now undergo further assessment before heading to international duty with France to determine the severity of the injury,
Meanwhile, the manager will have to balance tactical adjustments with managing player fitness after the international break, as the team tries to recover from three consecutive losses that have exposed vulnerabilities across the squad.
The Reds now face the challenge of steadying their defence, boosting confidence, and finding the balance between player welfare and tactical effectiveness. With Konate requiring assessment and Robertson’s potential fitness issues also in the air as he limped off the pitch.
The concerns are mounting. Liverpool are not in a full-blown crisis, but the combination of poor results, defensive fragility, and injuries to key players makes this a testing period. Konate’s substitution may have been precautionary, but it is another reminder that Slot’s side has much to fix if they are to challenge at the top of the Premier League.
