Liverpool Pair Appears to Be at Odds — Arne Slot Could Be Forced to Drop One Next Season
Liverpool could be forced to split up the centre-back pairing of Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk, as recent performances from the duo have come under scrutiny.
With roughly a quarter of the 2025/26 campaign completed, Liverpool’s season has felt like two very different stories. Excluding the Community Shield, they began the year with seven straight wins in all competitions.
However, even during that winning streak, the Reds rarely appeared fully in control, relying on late goals to scrape results. Their momentum finally collapsed in the loss to Crystal Palace — the start of a dramatic downturn.
After the defeat at Brentford, Liverpool have now suffered four consecutive Premier League losses. A 5–1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt remains their only win in their last six games across all competitions, and pressure is steadily intensifying on manager Arne Slot.
Liverpool’s summer recruitment has also been heavily debated. The club spent big in preparation for their title defence, but marquee arrivals Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have yet to hit their stride at Anfield, prompting questions about whether the funds should have been directed toward defensive reinforcements instead.
Pardew Suggests a Change in Defence
Despite being out of management since 2023, Alan Pardew — who spent significant spells at Newcastle and Crystal Palace — weighed in on the situation. Speaking to the Daily Express after the Brentford defeat, Pardew claimed that van Dijk and Konaté “looked like they’ve fallen out.” The two have usually been an outstanding partnership, but both have struggled to reach their usual level this season.
Liverpool’s only new centre-back, Giovanni Leoni, suffered a major injury on his debut. Joe Gomez, meanwhile, continues to battle inconsistency and fitness problems. With better squad depth, Slot may have already rotated van Dijk or Konaté to reset the defence.
Konaté’s contract reportedly expires at the end of the season, and Real Madrid are said to be monitoring the situation. If an exit is inevitable, Liverpool may be better off allowing him to leave and bringing in a fresh partner for van Dijk.
Marc Guehi remains the standout candidate. Despite interest from other clubs, the Crystal Palace captain appears the most logical option. Securing Guehi — and adding greater depth — could give Liverpool’s defence the overhaul it urgently needs.