Liverpool’s bruising night at the City Ground left a bitter taste in the mouths of supporters, but no moment stung more than the performance that ignited outrage across the fanbase. As Nottingham Forest pressed, battled and punished every mistake, one name kept echoing across social media and among the travelling Reds: Ibrahima Konaté.
In a game that demanded leadership and composure at the back, Konaté delivered one of his most troubling displays in a Liverpool shirt. Misjudged tackles, poor positioning, and an alarming loss of focus at key moments turned the match into a tense ordeal. Forest sensed it immediately — especially with Kerkez and Isak working tirelessly down the flanks and through the lines, dragging Liverpool’s defensive shape into chaos.
Every time Kerkez surged forward or Isak drifted into space, Konaté seemed a step behind, uncertain and exposed. What should have been a routine defensive assignment quickly spiralled into a frantic scramble, with Liverpool relying on last-ditch blocks and desperate clearances just to stay afloat.
By full-time, frustration had reached boiling point.
“This should be his last game in a Liverpool shirt,” one furious fan declared online, a sentiment that spread rapidly among supporters still reeling from the defeat.
“He’s costing us every week,” another wrote, while others questioned how long Arne Slot could continue defending the centre-back’s form.
Even neutral observers couldn’t ignore the contrast: Kerkez playing with confidence and athletic drive, Isak cutting through Liverpool’s shape dangerously — and Konaté struggling to keep pace with the tempo and intensity Forest brought.
It was a night where the weaknesses were too loud to ignore and where Liverpool’s defensive hierarchy suddenly looked less secure. For a team with ambitions of fighting at the top, these lapses felt unforgivable.
Inside the dressing room, there will be analysis, reflection and uncomfortable conversations. Outside it, the noise is deafening — and the verdict from fans is merciless.
Whether Konaté is granted redemption or whether this becomes the match that defines his Liverpool future remains to be seen. But one thing is unmistakable: the pressure surrounding him has never been heavier, and after a disastrous night against Nottingham Forest, patience across the fanbase is on the brink of collapse.