Ibrahima Konate 'petrified of the ball' as Virgil van Dijk moment spotted during Chelsea game

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Liverpool FC NewsIbrahima KonatéLiverpool struggled to contain Chelsea in a huge clash at Anfield, with Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk coming under fire for their displays in the race for Champions League qualification.Ibrahima Konate has been slammed during his display for Liverpool against Chelsea(Image: (Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images))Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has slammed Ibrahima Konate's performance during the clash between the Reds and Chelsea, having spotted a moment between the French defender and his center-back partner Virgil van Dijk.It came as the home side took an early lead through Ryan Gravenberch at Anfield, but early dominance was soon wiped out by Wesley Fofana's deft touch from an Enzo Fernandez free kick.The momentum firmly shifted in favour of Chelsea, as the Liverpool backline was put under pressure time and again, putting both Konate and Van Dijk to the test.Warnock questioned the former of the pairing in particular, when giving his assessment on BBC Radio 5 Live, as he said: "There's no pressure on the ball, there's no intensity, they look lost in the system as Chelsea come forward. Konate drops all the time, he's petrified of the ball in behind him."Him and Van Dijk are constantly arguing about the bravery of how to hold the line, and Konate is not strong enough to do it."TOPSHOT - Chelsea's Spanish defender #03 Marc Cucurella (L) vies with Liverpool's French defender #05 Ibrahima Konate during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 9, 2026.

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