French-Malian defender Ibrahima Konate must raise his game, says former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse

Former Liverpool forward Djibril Cisse believes Ibrahima Konate is fully aware that his performances this season have fallen short of expectations, though he insists the criticism directed at the French-Malian defender has been exaggerated.

Konate, who has Malian roots, has endured a challenging 2025–26 campaign, with several of his displays for Liverpool drawing scrutiny from fans and pundits.

The 26-year-old centre-back has been accused of lapses in concentration and positional errors, particularly in moments of defensive transition that have cost the Reds valuable points in the Premier League and Europe.

Cisse, however, maintains that the defender remains a high-calibre player going through a temporary dip in form.

“When people criticise you, it means that you can usually do better than you’re currently doing,” Cisse told Poker Strategy.

“Which is what we’re seeing with Ibrahima Konate right now.”

He added: “I think there’s a case to be made that at the moment he isn’t performing as well as he should be, but I’m not really worried because he’s a top-class defender.

“I think he will return to his top level eventually this season. This sometimes happens with players – you go through bad periods, which is exactly what’s happening to him and why he’s getting criticised.”

Konate has been a key figure for Liverpool since joining from RB Leipzig in 2021, but his recent struggles have raised questions about his consistency and durability.

Despite that, Cisse believes his compatriot possesses the mentality and technical quality to overcome the rough patch and re-establish himself as one of Liverpool’s defensive pillars.

“However, he’s still a top player and an important defender for Liverpool,” Cisse concluded, backing the defender to silence critics before the end of the season.