Ibrahima Konate called out over role in Burnley equalizer against Liverpool

Ibrahima Konate nearly scored an own-goal and then was slow to react in the build-up to Burnley's equalizing goal, scored by Marcus Edwards

Ibrahima Konate during Liverpool's draw with Burnley(Image: 2026 Getty Images)

Ibrahima Konate was questioned for his role in Burnley's equalizer at Anfield as Liverpool was held to a 1-1 draw by the Clarets.

Florian Wirtz gave Liverpool the lead in the first half after Dominik Szoboszlai had missed a penalty, but Marcus Edwards leveled proceedings in the 65th minute.

Edwards latched onto a through ball from Florentino before lashing the ball past Alisson, and Konate was criticized for his sluggish reaction to Florentino's pass, as he failed to get across to close Edwards down and block the Burnley forward's shot.

Shay Given was among those who questioned Konate, saying: “Brilliant goal by Burnley. It was coming. A fantastic pass from Florentino down the inside of Ibrahima Konate. Konate should probably shuffle across, but he acts after the ball is played.”

Edwards' goal came shortly after Konate had nearly turned the ball into his own net, with the Frenchman requiring his goalkeeper to bail him out when his attempted clearance from an Edwards cross sped towards his own goal.

Arne Slot referenced that incident in his post-game press conference after he was asked whether 'sloppiness' had crept into Liverpool's performance shortly before Burnley's equalizer.

"I think there was one big warning sign when we almost scored an own goal and that chance, and the goal we conceded, came from similar situations where we wanted to try to bring the ball out from the back and we were caught in possession," Slot said.

Arne Slot during Liverpool versus Burnley(Image: AFP or licensors)

"Twice that led to a dangerous situation and I think those were the only moments where we struggled, but that was inside five minutes so it felt like, ‘We are having a more difficult spell in the game.’

"So, in a similar way we have conceded those two chances but during the whole game I think we did really well in a combination of bringing the ball out from the back [and] playing a bit more direct.

"But yeah, a great finish from a position which, I think, we had many better positions to score from, but that’s football and we have to accept that."

The draw with Burnley stretched Liverpool's unbeaten run to 12 games in all competitions, but six of those games have ended in draws, including four of the last five, leading to criticism of Slot and the team.