Ibrahima Konate makes Liverpool fan eat his words as Newcastle gameplan falls flat

Liverpool analysis from Mark Jones as Reds ran out 4-1 winners over Newcastle United at Anfield

Football fans all have their favourites and all have players that they are quick to turn on when things don't go well, and it is fairly clear which camp Ibrahima Konate has fallen into this season.

Arne Slot admitted himself that the Frenchman "has been a bit too much at the crime scene" at times following his infamous game changing error at Leeds United in December, and amid the ongoing backdrop of his contact impasse that has created an at times difficult relationship with the Anfield crowd.

With little sign of that deal which expires in the summer being extended, and memories of the ending to Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool career all too fresh in people's minds, there has been an ongoing scrutiny on Konate's displays which has bordered on the overly critical at times.

OPINION

He has also struggled of course, that much is clear to see, but even his harshest critics - including one fan in Anfield's Main Stand who told reporters to give him a "one and a half out of 10" at half-time here - could not begrudge him his moment in front of the Kop in the closing stages of the match following the devastating passing of his father.

Even without that strike - which came about from a comical Nick Pope error - it had been an excellent night for Konate, who was returning to the side after missing three matches on compassionate leave.

He did so with his best performance of the season, and one that outlines that if Liverpool are to have to replace him in the summer then they are going to have to go a long way to find a player who can be this impressive on his day.

Physical Newcastle eventually overcome

If there’s one thing that Liverpool’s issues have done this season it is provide encouragement for other teams to impose what they want to do on the game.

The Reds were imperious on their way to winning the title in the last campaign, often never giving their opposition a sniff, but the way Newcastle started suggested that they thought they could inflict damage on them early. And not just on the scoresheet.

Adopting a physical approach even without their dynamic midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, the Magpies swarmed on Liverpool and were all too keen for the game to be played out in a stop-start manner and with a series of set-pieces.

They won three corners in the first seven minutes, a figure that had swelled to seven by the half hour, shortly after Harvey Barnes had rattled a free-kick against the post at the Kop end.

That was the most trouble Alisson had faced since Anthony Gordon’s 11th minute lunge on him which rightly brought a yellow card and nothing more.

Gordon, who had also tussled with Alexis Mac Allister before his caution, was often playing in the centre of a mobile front three, flanked by Barnes and Anthony Elanga.

Their pace and physicality was proving tough for Liverpool to live with on the occasions that the ball was in play, and although the Reds had asserted some control before Gordon’s arrowed shot which opened the scoring, it was a goal that vindicated the visitors’ approach.

It is no wonder that teams play like this against the Reds when it works, but the response to going a goal behind should fill Arne Slot with hope for the future.

Liverpool remember how to bounce back

Slot looked surprised in his post match press conference when it was put to him that this was the first time Liverpool had come from behind to win a Premier League game since the 5-1 victory over Tottenham which secured last season's title.

Once the reality of that had set in the Reds boss puffed out his cheeks and shook his head, no doubt reliving the occasions he's seen his side throw away points with the concession of late goals all across the campaign.

There was something different about this though, as the defiant response to Newcastle taking the lead would eventually lead to the type of post match atmosphere Slot became used to during his maiden campaign in English football.

Dua Lipa even got an airing as Liverpool supporters revelled in the type of night they'd forgotten how to have against testing opposition, with the four goals here adding to the six scored against Qarabag and turning this into quite the week.

There had of course been another Premier League comeback staged in the minutes before Liverpool had kicked off, with Enzo Fernandez's late winner ensuring that Chelsea came from two goals down to beat West Ham 3-2 and further their own top four hopes.

But if Liverpool's resilience really is back, then it promises to be a fight to the finish on that front and others for the remainder of the campaign.

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