Liverpool had a big chance to go 14 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League as they met Fulham on Sunday.
The Reds were handed a favour by Everton on Saturday, with the Toffees holding Mikel Arteta’s team to a 1-1 draw.
Craven Cottage has not been an easy place to go for anyone this season, though, with Marco Silva priming his side for a shot at European qualification.
Liverpool have struggled against Fulham over the years and they didn’t start in the best way on Sunday, either.
The Cottagers could have been ahead early on, after a mistake by Ibrahima Konate led to a big chance for the home side.
Fortunately, it didn’t come to anything on that occasion. But that didn’t stop Jamie Carragher from laying into Konate on commentary.
Jamie Carragher not impressed by Ibrahima Konate
Liverpool were diabolical for large swathes of Sunday’s game against Fulham. They may have gotten themselves ahead through an Alexis Mac Allister stunner, but otherwise it was not good enough.
The tone was set by Konate early on. The centre-back was too slow on the ball, allowing Andreas Perreira to sneak in one-vs-one with Caoimhin Kelleher.
The only reason it came to nothing was because of some quick thinking by Virgil van Dijk.
“It starts with Konate messing about with the ball, I mean what’s he doing?” said Carragher on commentary for Sky Sports.
“It’s not the first time in his Liverpool career he’ll say he [Van Dijk] helped his mate out and he’s done it again.”
Konate compounds early mistake
Not long after his initial error, Konate was unconvincing again, slicing a clearance up behind him and over the bar.
And after watching the 25-year-old make a meal of things once more, Carragher made a point about Konate’s frustration at not being handed man of the match awards this season.
“Well, Konate again, he can be a little bit frustrated when man of the match awards are given out and are given to the likes of Virgil van Dijk,” said the former Liverpool defender.
“In the first nine minutes of this game we’re seeing a couple of reasons why [he doesn’t get them].”
Konate was far from alone at being poor against Fulham, but his sloppiness set the tone. He has to be better.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
