Tribal Football

Slot admits Konate "too many times on crime scene" as Liverpool held by Leeds

Slot admits Konate "too many times on crime scene" as Liverpool held by Leeds
Slot admits Konate "too many times on crime scene" as Liverpool held by LeedsLee Keuneke/Every Second Media / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

Liverpool boss Arne Slot admits Leeds United's fight-back was a "shock".

Ao Tanaka struck on 96 minutes for Leeds to earn the 3-3 draw at Elland Road.

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Afterwards, Slot admitted the result and Leeds' late goals were a "shock". 

He stated: "I think the two things you just said: the result and the manner where we conceded the goals. The way the whole game went for us. For me, it felt there were so many positives to take from this game, which has happened to us so many times this season where you felt like there are so many positives to take, except for the result. Then it would've been nice to get that result combined with the performance.

"But not for the first time this season we've conceded goals and dropped points... a VAR intervention that leads to a penalty, the first chance they had, which was the 2-2 because the 2-1 wasn't a chance. I think the ball is already out, there was contact, so he gave a penalty. Then the first chance from football of them led to the 2-2.

"Then we had a fantastic attack to (score) the 3-2. But what we have to do to score a goal is doing many things right. Unfortunately, we concede... I wouldn't say too easy, because we hardly gave away a chance, but when we do it's a goal."

 

Defending Liverpool mentality

Asked if his players are lacking mental strength, Slot denied the claim.

He continued: "I don't feel that. Although it's never nice when you're 2-0 up and you control the game. I think we even had the chance to go 3-0 up with Cody (Gakpo) and a counter. It's not even a dangerous situation that leads to a penalty and then if you play at Leeds, or no matter which stadium you play in the Premier League, then there is belief again.

"That belief becomes even stronger if the first chance they have that goes in and it's 2-2, and then I saw mentality – the mentality to come back.

"Not only mentality but also quality. Macca (Alexis Mac Allister) stepped over the ball… Dom was in the position we wanted him to be in today and finished it off. (The) referee then came with nine minutes of extra time and in that nine minutes of extra time we conceded (from) a set-piece."

 

Konate too many times on crime scene

Asked about another struggling performance by Ibrahima Konate at the back, Slot concedes he is being caught out at crucial times.

Slot said, "Unfortunately for him he does a lot of things well, but he has been a bit too much on the crime scene, that is something I've heard people saying before in England. That means he's involved in goals we have conceded. But if you are a centre-back that happens in football.

"Today it was a tackle that came from effort and you try to do everything to block the cross. The ball went out, player already went down a little bit and then there was contact, that was obvious and clear that there was contact. Now the question is if the VAR interfered for that. Probably a lot of people will say that's correct. But the same people should look at some games this season where the VAR didn't come in moments like this."

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