Liverpool’s six-game unbeaten run in the Premier League came to a crashing halt with a 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace, and the fallout has been fierce. A disputed VAR call allowed Mohamed Salah to play a role in the Reds’ late equalizer, sparking outrage from Ibrahima Konaté, who slammed the decision in a fiery post-match interview. Yet it was his candid admission—that Liverpool’s defensive frailties stem from a “lack of hunger” and costly mistakes—that has drawn even more attention. With Micah Richards publicly questioning his form and the backline leaking set-piece goals, manager Arne Slot faces mounting concerns over a defense once seen as the team’s backbone.
The match itself was a tactical nightmare. Palace, driven by Oliver Glasner’s high-pressing blueprint, carved Liverpool open in the first half with incisive transitions led by Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaïla Sarr. Sarr’s 22nd-minute strike set the tone, and only Alisson Becker’s brilliance kept the scoreline respectable. Pundits like Alan Shearer noted how Liverpool were “all over the place defensively,” while Slot admitted Palace could have been two or three goals up by halftime. Eddie Nketiah’s stoppage-time winner, a deflected volley from a throw-in routine, ultimately sealed Liverpool’s fate.
Controversy followed when Federico Chiesa’s 87th-minute header was allowed to stand despite claims Salah had handled the ball in the buildup. Palace defender Chris Richards called the decision “a joke,” while Konaté unleashed his frustration on Sky Sports, branding VAR “a disgrace” and insisting the ruling “papered over our cracks.” Yet he didn’t stop there—turning the spotlight on himself and his teammates. “Our defense isn’t what it was. No hunger, too many errors—me included,” he admitted. “Set pieces, duels, communication—it’s all slipping. If we don’t fix it, the title’s gone.”
His words struck a nerve. Richards highlighted how Konaté has struggled physically, forcing Virgil van Dijk to cover more ground at 34. Stats back it up: his duel success rate has plummeted, while Liverpool’s set-piece record is the worst among the top six. With injuries mounting—Konaté, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Ryan Gravenberch all sidelined—Slot faces a defensive crisis ahead of the Champions League clash with Benfica.
Still, Slot chose to frame Konaté’s honesty as leadership, warning only that Liverpool’s “hunger” must return. The defeat leaves them second on goal difference, with Manchester City closing in and a Merseyside derby looming. Whether Konaté’s outburst unites the squad or deepens the cracks could define Liverpool’s season. As one club source put it: “He’s not just raging at VAR—he’s holding a mirror up to the team. The question is, will they like what they see?”
