Konate makes brutally honest Liverpool admission as Slot sack pressure grows

Ibrahima Konate has responded to criticism aimed at himself and his Liverpool team-mates following their 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven that saw the Reds suffer their ninth defeat in 12 matches

Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate has vowed the team will bounce back following criticism of their recent performances and his own personal form. The defender acknowledges that they need to step up their game after a challenging season for the Reds.

The reigning Premier League champions hit a new low on Wednesday, suffering a 4-1 defeat at the hands of PSV Eindhoven. This marked Liverpool's ninth loss in their last 12 matches, piling pressure on manager Arne Slot after a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

The 26-year-old Konate has faced significant criticism this season due to his performances for Liverpool. He was blamed for another goal during the PSV match when his mistake allowed the opposition to score their third goal midway through the second half.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday evening, Konate said: "We have to take this moment on the chest. Criticism is part of football, and we'll fight back every time and come through this storm. In these moments, the fans matter most.

"The ones who stand with us in the good times and the bad - the ones who sing for us even in the difficult moments! Your voice and your support mean everything to us.

"We know we need to improve and we'll keep fighting for you. Always."

In recent games where Liverpool have found themselves behind, the France international centre-back has been substituted for an attacker.

During the loss to Sean Dyche's team, he was hauled off for Hugo Ekitike after 55 minutes, with a similar scenario unfolding in the Champions League when Federico Chiesa came on with 14 minutes left on Wednesday.

With Giovanni Leoni ruled out for the campaign through a knee problem and ongoing concerns over Joe Gomez, Liverpool are desperately short at the back.

Ahead of Sunday's clash with West Ham United, Slot revealed that Konate had been missing from training for two days prior to Wednesday's setback.

The Dutch manager – who is facing growing pressure over his position – must make crucial choices regarding his team selection, with Liverpool in danger of slipping further adrift in both the Champions League qualification race and the title fight.

"Yes, we have had the same conversations since I was here," Slot confirmed, regarding discussions about his future with sporting director Richard Hughes.

"I am not sure if I said last night but we fight on, we try to improve – that's what we all try - but the conversations have been the same as they have been for the last one-and-a-half years.

"There is a lot of pressure if you play or work at a top club and even more so if you start losing more games than this club or these players or this manager is used to. Then there is always pressure.

"But there was pressure last season for us to win the league and now it's a different kind of pressure because we have lost so many games. What it does to me is I can just do the same but I don't have to play, so maybe my job is a bit easier when it comes to this.

"We have to keep fighting. That is what we have done so well last season and what this club has been about for so many years. That is what we expect. The minimum I and we expect is we do it over 90 minutes, which is not always easy if you get knock after knock after knock."