Wolves vs Liverpool: Slot criticises Konate despite defender’s goal to help Reds top table

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has said Ibrahima Konate was responsible for Wolves’ “avoidable” equaliser against his side in their 2-1 Premier League win at Molineux on Saturday.

Jorgen Strand Larsen robbed Konate to set up Rayan Ait-Nouri’s 56th-minute strike after Konate had headed his first Premier League goal to open the scoring during first-half added time.

“Maybe he forgot the moment we conceded a goal,” Slot suggested to Sky Sports after the defender had told the broadcaster that he thought he should have been Player of the Match while handing the award to team-mate Ryan Gravenberch. “That was the reason we conceded, as he wasn’t there and it was avoidable.”

Liverpool restore their lead moments after conceding as Mo Salah converts from the spot 🎯 pic.twitter.com/6RAhjldU7Q

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 28, 2024

Wolves vs Liverpool result

Mohamed Salah’s 61st-minute penalty sent the Reds top of the table above Manchester City as the Reds secured a fourth win in 11 days.

Salah converted from the spot after Nelson Semedo was adjudged to have fouled Diogo Jota, giving his side their third away win from three in the top flight this season and moving them a point above the Cityzens, both having played six league games.

“You want to be up there but it doesn’t tell me that much at the moment,” Slot told BBC MOTD. “If you look at Wolves, they are down in the table but they played much better than that today.

Sloppy defending from Liverpool costs them their lead as Rayan Aït-Nouri levels for Wolves! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/EErECkyzK2

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 28, 2024

“I don’t think we started well but we have to give credit to Wolves and Gary O’Neil. They had a real good gameplan. We had some problems in the first 20 minutes but we took control of the game.

“They overloaded our right side a lot with many players. Normally we try to press with Salah a bit more forward, but sometimes it is not about tactics – it is about how aggressively you press, how strong you are in the duels.”

Liverpool fixtures, schedule

Liverpool have won four consecutive matches in all competitions since their surprise 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on September 14 in their first loss under Slot.

“In the second half, we came out better,” reflected the Dutchman. “The energy and intensity was much higher. “Sometimes, we feel we have to be more patient against a low block team.

The power on that header 💥

Ibrahima Konaté with his first Premier League goal for Liverpool! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/OF10hhi4UT

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 28, 2024

“I am not saying Wolves were that. We were patient and kept circulating the ball and kept waiting for the right moment to bring the ball in.”

Liverpool are next in action at home to Bologna in the Champions League on Wednesday (8pm BST). Their next league game is at winless Crystal Palace on October 5 (12.30pm).