Liverpool dropped factors for the fourth Premier League match in a row with a irritating 1-1 draw in opposition to bottom-three aspect Burnley at Anfield on Saturday.
Arne Slot‘s Reds took the lead via Florian Wirtz, who brilliantly discovered the highest nook with a elegant reverse end, however a second-half strike from Marcus Edwards secured some extent for the away crew.
Wirtz has now scored 4 targets in his final 5 matches in all competitions for the Reds, because the Germany worldwide seems to justify the £116m charge that was paid to signal him from Bayer Leverkusen in the summertime window.
While the German star impressed, it was not the very best day on the workplace for Dominik Szoboszlai, who missed a penalty when the rating was 0-0 within the first half.
Why Dominik Szoboszlai shouldn’t be criticised
The Hungarian central midfielder deserved criticism at the beginning of the week when his determination to try a backheel in his personal field gifted Adam Phillips a aim in opposition to Barnsley within the FA Cup on Monday.
Nonetheless, he shouldn’t be given an excessive amount of criticism for his efficiency in opposition to Burnley on Saturday, though he missed a penalty, as he was unlucky with the spot kick, which was struck effectively onto the woodwork.
Per Sofascore, Szoboszlai created two probabilities, together with one ‘huge likelihood’, accomplished two of his three dribbles, and accomplished 93% of his tried passes within the match, which reveals that his common play in possession was spectacular.
The central midfield star additionally received 4 of his 5 floor duels and his solely aerial battle, with out being dribbled previous a single time, displaying his power and high quality off the ball.
It was, subsequently, a good all-round efficiency from Szoboszlai and never one which he deserves criticism for due to an unlucky penalty miss, earlier than Liverpool finally took the lead anyway.
The Liverpool flop who have to be bought this month
There’s a Liverpool flop, nevertheless, who ought to lastly be bought by FSG this month after one other disappointing efficiency from him in opposition to Burnley this weekend.
Ibrahima Konate has began all 22 of the membership’s matches within the Premier League this season, per Sofascore, however he has didn’t show himself to be a dependable defender in that point.
The France worldwide was lucky that Alisson was alert to make a advantageous save to stop him from scoring an personal aim, as he performed Burnley onside earlier than sliding the ball in the direction of his personal internet.
Konate was made to pay, although, when he was far too gradual to react to Edwards’ run into the field, and he was unable to shut him down shortly sufficient to cease the English ahead’s shot from discovering the far nook for the equaliser.
The 26-year-old dud, who misplaced possession 13 instances within the match (Sofascore), was lucky to solely be culpable for one aim, as a substitute of two, in what was one other sloppy defensive show, which is why he was even worse than Szoboszlai, who had an excellent recreation outdoors of his penalty miss.
|
Konate (PL) |
24/25 |
25/26 |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
31 |
22 |
|
Clear sheets |
11 |
5 |
|
Fouls per recreation |
0.9 |
1.0 |
|
Error led to shot |
2 |
3 |
|
Error led to aim |
1 |
0 |
|
Penalties dedicated |
0 |
1 |
As you may see within the desk above, Konate has already made extra errors which have led to photographs, targets, or penalties in 22 Premier League video games this season than he did in 31 outings within the top-flight final time period.
Earlier this season, Liverpool podcaster and author Eddie Gibbs additionally described him as “Liverpool’s most alarming fault line” who “seems like a footballer combating his personal reflection”, which is backed up by his statistics throughout the 2 campaigns.
His contract at Anfield is because of expire in the summertime, which suggests that he’s set to go away for nothing, and that’s the reason FSG ought to lastly money in on him within the present January switch window.
Konate’s downturn in type this season within the Premier League means that the membership shouldn’t provide him a brand new deal, therefore why they need to promote him now to make some cash as a substitute of shedding the centre-back for nothing.
Liverpool able to signal £100m Szoboszlai improve & he is “higher than Rice”
Liverpool have recognized a prime Premier League midfielder to revamp Slot’s struggling midfield.
Subsequently, FSG should take a look at the market to see if any groups could be keen to spend some cash to signal Konate now, earlier than they lose him on a free switch in the summertime.
