“I can’t continue to watch this. While everyone else is celebrating a 5-2 win, one player is completely holding us back. His performance was a total horror show” – Serious questions are being asked at Anfield tonight as a £34m Liverpool star has been slammed in the latest player ratings. Despite Hugo Ekitike’s masterclass, this regular starter “struggled to do the basics.”

"A Total Horror Show": The £34m Liverpool Star Being Exposed as the Weak Link in a 5-2 Thrashing

By admin On Feb 28, 2026

The final scoreline at Anfield told a story of emphatic dominance. Five goals, three points, and a statement victory that moved Liverpool level with Manchester United in the race for Champions League qualification. But beneath the surface of that 5-2 triumph, a deeper concern is gnawing at the Liverpool faithful.

**”I can’t continue to watch this. While everyone else is celebrating a 5-2 win, one player is completely holding us back. His performance was a total horror show.”**

That devastating verdict, now echoing through Anfield’s fan forums and punditry circles, has zeroed in on a £34m regular starter whose display against West Ham has been described as struggling “to do the basics.” While Hugo Ekitike delivered a masterclass with a goal and two assists, this Liverpool star was delivering the kind of performance that raises serious questions about his future in Arne Slot’s evolving system .

## The Culprit: Ibrahima Konaté’s 4/10 Disasterclass

Multiple player ratings sources have identified Ibrahima Konaté as the weak link in Liverpool’s performance. **Goal** delivered the most damning assessment, awarding the French centre-back a **4/10** rating .

The critique was brutal and specific:

**”Just doesn’t look anywhere near as comfortable as he should. Struggled to sort his feet out at times, and a few poor giveaways”** .

The French international’s performance was marked by a critical error that directly contributed to West Ham’s first goal. Tomas Soucek’s strike in the 49th minute came after Konaté could only flick on Jarrod Bowen’s cross, failing to deal with a routine defensive situation . His poor header created the chaos that Soucek exploited, undoing the clean sheet that should have been Liverpool’s foundation.

## The Statistical Evidence: A Defender Out of Sorts

The numbers across multiple publications paint a concerning picture of Konaté’s display:

While some outlets like SI.com awarded a more generous 7/10, even that rating came with the explicit acknowledgment that his error cost Liverpool their defensive solidity . The 49th-minute header was the defining moment of his afternoon—a moment that exposed the fragility lurking beneath his physical presence.

## The Context: A Season of Inconsistency

Konaté’s performance against West Ham cannot be viewed in isolation. The French defender has struggled throughout the 2025-26 campaign to recapture the imperious form that once made him one of Europe’s most coveted young centre-backs.

His partner Virgil van Dijk, despite his own occasional lapses, delivered a **7/10** performance that included a goal and generally solid defensive work . Van Dijk’s “Rolls-Royce” reputation may stall occasionally, but he remains the standard-bearer of Liverpool’s backline . Konaté, by contrast, appears to be regressing.

The **Irish News** noted Liverpool’s transformation from set-piece failures to the division’s most prolific threat from corners, but defensive vulnerabilities persist . Konaté’s inability to maintain concentration for 90 minutes represents a weakness that opponents are increasingly targeting.

## What “Struggling to Do the Basics” Really Means

The phrase “struggled to do the basics” cuts to the heart of the concern surrounding Konaté. At its core, it suggests a player whose fundamental defensive instincts have deserted him.

For a centre-back, the “basics” include:

– **Clearing your lines effectively** – not flicking crosses into dangerous areas
– **Tracking runners** – not losing your mark at set-pieces
– **Passing with conviction** – not giving away possession cheaply
– **Maintaining concentration** – not switching off after 45 minutes

Against West Ham, Konaté failed multiple of these fundamental tests. His header for Soucek’s goal was technically poor and positionally naive. His “poor giveaways” in possession undermined Liverpool’s ability to build from the back . For a player of his physical gifts and technical potential, these failures are inexplicable.

## The Goalkeeper’s Own Horror Moment

Konaté wasn’t alone in his struggles. Alisson Becker received a **5/10** rating from **Goal** for an erratic display that nearly gifted West Ham a goal in the first half .

**”Almost gave Bowen a massive chance as he passed the ball straight to the winger, but his touch bounced off him and into the Brazilian’s grateful arms. Let down by his defence when Soucek scored, but terrible for Taty Castellanos’ header”** .

The Brazilian’s “lackadaisical approach” had pundits questioning his concentration levels, with Stephen Warnock reportedly fuming at the complacency on display . When your world-class goalkeeper and your promising young centre-back both have off days simultaneously, the defensive structure inevitably frays.

## The Ekitike Contrast: A Star in Ascendance

The contrast with Hugo Ekitike’s performance could not be starker. The French striker delivered a **9/10** masterclass, scoring one goal and providing two assists in a display described as “special” .

**”He produced a slick finish to help his side take the lead and was a tormenting factor with his movement. Played two clever passes for Mac Allister and Gakpo’s goal, grabbing three goal contributions in an impressive display”** .

Ekitike now has **20 goal involvements across all competitions** (16 goals, 4 assists), more than any other Liverpool player . His trajectory points firmly upward, while Konaté’s appears worryingly stalled.

## The Top-Four Stakes: Why Every Performance Matters

Liverpool’s victory moved them level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United, with the table now reading :

| Position | Team | Points |
|———-|——|——–|
| 4 | Manchester United | 48 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 48 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 45 |

With 10 games remaining, every defensive lapse carries multiplied significance. A single error can cost points. Points cost positions. Positions cost Champions League qualification.

Konaté’s error against West Ham didn’t prove costly on this occasion—Liverpool’s attacking firepower compensated for defensive fragility. But against stronger opposition, against more clinical finishers, such mistakes are punished without mercy.

## The Slot Dilemma: Patience or Pragmatism?

Arne Slot faces an increasingly difficult decision regarding Konaté’s role in the run-in. The Dutch manager has shown patience with his players, trusting them to play through difficult periods. But with Champions League qualification on the line, can he afford to carry a defender who “struggled to sort his feet out” against a relegation-threatened opponent ?

The alternatives are limited. Joe Gomez received a **5/10** rating for his own unconvincing display at right-back . Jarell Quansah, the promising young defender, is on loan at Bayer Leverkusen with a £70m buy-back clause that only activates in 2027. The defensive depth that once seemed a strength now appears worryingly thin.

## The Psychological Toll: Confidence Crumbling

Perhaps the most concerning aspect of Konaté’s performance is its psychological dimension. A defender who “looks comfortable” is a defender playing with confidence, with belief, with the certainty that comes from consistent performance . Konaté, by contrast, appears uncertain, hesitant, and error-prone.

The Frenchman’s body language against West Ham told its own story. After the Soucek goal, he cut a frustrated figure, seemingly aware that his error had compromised his team’s clean sheet. That awareness, while commendable, can become a trap—overthinking, overcompensating, and ultimately compounding errors with further mistakes.

## What Comes Next: The Run-In Tests

Liverpool’s remaining fixtures include crucial clashes that will test Konaté’s resilience. If selected, he will face attackers capable of exploiting any hesitation:

– Arsenal (away) – Bukayo Saka’s movement and directness
– Chelsea (home) – Cole Palmer’s creativity and João Pedro’s intelligent running
– Manchester United (away) – Bryan Mbeumo’s pace and directness

These are not opponents who forgive lapses in concentration. They punish hesitation, expose technical deficiencies, and capitalise on defensive uncertainty. If Konaté cannot deliver against West Ham, how can he be trusted against title-chasing Arsenal?

## The Verdict: A Problem That Won’t Disappear

**”I can’t continue to watch this. While everyone else is celebrating a 5-2 win, one player is completely holding us back. His performance was a total horror show.”**

The words may be harsh, but the evidence supports them. Ibrahima Konaté delivered a performance that, by multiple accounts, fell well below the standard required of a Liverpool centre-back. His error gifted West Ham a route back into the game, and his general play lacked the conviction and security expected of a £34m defender.

The 5-2 scoreline provides cover for these deficiencies, but the underlying concerns remain. Liverpool can celebrate their victory while acknowledging that their defensive fragility must be addressed. Arne Slot can praise his attackers while privately questioning whether his centre-back partnership is stable enough to withstand the challenges ahead.

For Konaté, the message is clear: the “basics” are not optional. Concentration is not negotiable. And performances like the one against West Ham, excusable on a day of attacking fireworks, become unforgivable when the goals dry up.

The £34m defender has work to do. And at Anfield, the clock is ticking. 😤🔴⚠️

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