Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given did not hold back in his criticism of Liverpool’s defensive display after Burnley’s second-half equaliser at Anfield on Saturday.
The match had begun in Liverpool’s favour, with Florian Wirtz breaking the deadlock shortly before halftime by firing a powerful strike past Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
The Reds looked comfortable, creating several opportunities in the early stages of the second half, but Burnley gradually began to exploit lapses in concentration and defensive mistakes from Arne Slot’s team.
Their persistence paid off in the 65th minute when Marcus Edwards scored to level the game, a goal that, in hindsight, was hardly surprising given the circumstances.
Given, speaking on BBC’s Football Focus, pinpointed Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate as a key factor in the equaliser. He explained that Konate had been slow to react to the pass played into Edwards, which allowed the Burnley attacker to get a clean shot on goal. “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,” Given remarked.
Essentially, the former goalkeeper felt that Konate should have anticipated the danger and positioned himself more quickly to prevent the strike. In this instance, the Clarets capitalised on a moment of indecision, demonstrating the fine margins that can define Premier League matches.
It wasn’t the first time Konate had to intervene defensively during the match. Moments earlier, he had managed to get back in time to block a dangerous cross, forcing a crucial save from Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Without that intervention, the situation could easily have resulted in an immediate Burnley goal. This sequence highlighted that while Konate did contribute positively at times, there were moments when his reaction speed and positioning left Liverpool vulnerable.
After Burnley’s equaliser, Liverpool continued to create opportunities but failed to convert them, with the quality of the first-half display noticeably absent.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s missed penalty became a particularly costly moment, as the Reds were unable to regain the lead despite enjoying extended periods of possession and creating the majority of chances.
In total, Liverpool fired off 32 attempts compared to Burnley’s seven, underlining their dominance, yet the lack of clinical finishing and defensive lapses meant the game ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw.
The contrast between Liverpool’s first and second-half performances was stark. Slot will need to address why the team allowed such a drop in intensity and focus after halftime.
The result also serves as a warning for Liverpool’s ambitions in the Premier League. While they remain in fourth place for the time being, failing to convert dominance into decisive, consistent displays could see them slip down the table.
To compete effectively, Liverpool must not only maintain concentration across the full 90 minutes but also become more ruthless in both penalty areas, ensuring that opportunities created are reliably converted into goals.
A draw against a side like Burnley, despite outshooting them by such a wide margin, is a reminder of the fine margins and the urgency with which improvements are needed.
