A gloomy night at the Etihad Stadium saw Manchester City comfortably dismantle Liverpool 3-0, leaving fans deeply frustrated and one Liverpool player labelled a ‘liability’ after another poor showing. Goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez, and Jeremy Doku sealed an emphatic win for Pep Guardiola’s men, while Arne Slot’s Liverpool continued their downward spiral in the Premier League. The defeat — their fifth of the season — sparked intense criticism, particularly aimed at French defender Ibrahima Konate, whom many fans now believe should be sold in the January transfer window.
The Liverpool player labelled a ‘liability’, Konate, endured a torrid evening against City’s fast-paced attack. While Erling Haaland missed a penalty early on, he made up for it by opening the scoring in the 29th minute. Virgil van Dijk briefly thought he had equalized for Liverpool, but his goal was controversially disallowed after Andy Robertson was deemed offside in the buildup. Before half-time, Nico Gonzalez doubled City’s lead, and in the second half, Jeremy Doku — who was simply unstoppable on the wing — scored a stunning third to cap off a sensational performance that earned him Man of the Match honors.
For Arne Slot and his team, the loss further emphasized their defensive struggles and lack of composure at the back. Conor Bradley showed heart and energy despite being outplayed by Doku, but Liverpool player labelled a ‘liability’, Ibrahima Konate, once again failed to deliver a commanding performance. Once regarded as one of Europe’s brightest defensive talents, Konate’s form has drastically declined. Many supporters now see him as a weak link rather than a defensive leader.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid and manager Xabi Alonso are still monitoring the Frenchman’s situation, but Liverpool fans have already lost patience. Despite having 81 touches during the game, Konate won only two of his five ground duels — a worrying statistic for a defender of his calibre. Gary Neville, commenting on Sky Sports, pointed out that Manchester City deliberately allowed Konate more possession because they knew it posed little threat. “City’s tactic to leave Konate with the ball has worked brilliantly,” Neville said during commentary, emphasizing how Liverpool’s buildup play faltered whenever it passed through the Frenchman.
What angered fans most, however, was Konate’s weak defending for Haaland’s header in the first half. The Norwegian striker easily outjumped him to score the opener — a moment that epitomized Liverpool’s defensive frailties. Following the match, social media erupted with frustrated reactions, as many supporters called for Konate to be dropped or sold. “Konate has become a liability,” one fan raged. “Every time he makes one mistake, ten more follow. He’s a liability.” Another supporter added, “Sell him in January. He doesn’t even look committed anymore.”
For many fans, the phrase Liverpool player labelled a ‘liability’ perfectly captures their growing disappointment with Konate’s recent performances. Some even suggested that Liverpool should replace him with Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who has been on the club’s radar for months. “Konate needs to leave,” one fan insisted. “We must bring in Guehi this January.”
As Liverpool look to regain stability in defense, the future of the Liverpool player labelled a ‘liability’ remains uncertain. Whether Konate can rediscover his old form or faces the exit door in January, one thing is clear — patience among fans is wearing thin, and unless performances improve soon, calls for his departure will only grow louder.