Stoppage-Time Blues: Liverpool Star Disrupts Slot's Plans in Chelsea Thriller
5 October 2025
Match Context and Key Moments
Gary Neville, former Manchester United star, said Arne Slot appeared frustrated with Ibrahim Konaté’s display as Liverpool suffered a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea on Saturday.
Neville noted that Konaté seemed to lack pace and decisiveness in the build from the back, even as Slot later insisted the substitution wasn’t purely tactical.
Chelsea struck first through a composed attack, while Liverpool’s rust showed as a late goal from Estivão kept the seat warm for the home side’s downfall.
Turning Points and Aftermath
During the break, Slot made a single alteration: Florian Virts came on for Conor Bradley. Ten minutes into the second half, he made two more switches, pulling Konaté for Curtis Jones and moving Ryan Gravenberch into central defense, with Souboslai shifting to right-back.
Neville argued that Slot was trying to fix Liverpool’s build-from-the-back issues by forcing a more skilful passer from the back line, while Konaté’s rhythm and speed were under the microscope.
Slot later explained that Konaté’s withdrawal was due to a minor thigh problem—an injury that caused a limp and made timing the change sensible. The plan was to balance the defense with a center-back who could handle ball progression more effectively, according to Slot’s own assessment.
After the reshuffle, Cody Jakbo leveled seven minutes into the post-change period, giving Liverpool a glimmer of parity. Yet the real moment of truth arrived when Estivão struck late in stoppage time, restoring Chelsea’s lead and condemning Liverpool to another painful setback—an unfortunate repeated pattern given recent matches against Crystal Palace and Chelsea last season.
Slot emphasized that the defeat came down to fine margins and a few defensive details that didn’t go Liverpool’s way, rather than a wholesale tactical failure. The result leaves Liverpool second in the table, one point behind Arsenal, ahead of a forthcoming Anfield showdown with Manchester United.
In the end, Chelsea’s clinical finish and Liverpool’s backline issues were the headlines, while Slot’s lineup tinkering and Konaté’s form provided plenty of talking points for the international break.
And yes, the crowd’s mood wasn’t exactly a compliment sandwich for anyone in red, but at least the coffee at Anfield remains strong enough to keep hopes alive—for now.
