This past weekend, Liverpool faced an unexpected defeat at the hands of Fulham, marking a significant upset in the Premier League. The Cottagers—managed by Arne Slot—handed Liverpool their first loss of the season, delivering a stunning performance that resulted in three goals in just a 15-minute span of the first half. This shocking outcome has narrowed Liverpool's lead at the top of the table to 11 points.

With only seven matches remaining in the season, Liverpool remains the favorite to secure the Premier League title. The Reds are still in an advantageous position to clinch the championship by the end of this month, despite this setback.

However, Premier League legend Shay Given did not hold back in criticizing Ibrahima Konate for his key role in the disappointing defeat. On Match of the Day 2, Given pointed out that the French defender was "all over the place," contributing directly to Fulham's rapid scoring spree, which left Liverpool scrambling for answers.

Given remarked, "Liverpool were very poor. There was 15 minutes of madness in the first half, and that’s not like Liverpool at all. They’re top of the league for a reason because they are brilliant at the back. But Ibrahima Konate was out of sorts."

Compounding the team's woes, fellow defender Virgil van Dijk also faced criticism for his performance and demeanor after the match, emphasizing that Sunday’s encounter was a low point for the Reds, who have largely dominated the season.

Despite only two losses this season and an 11-point cushion over second-placed Arsenal, Liverpool cannot afford any further mistakes if they hope to finish the campaign strongly. Failure to capitalize on their commanding position against teams like West Ham and Leicester City in upcoming fixtures would compromise their title aspirations.

As Liverpool prepares for the critical final stretch of the season, they will be keen to learn from this defeat and refocus ahead of their next matches. Fans will be watching closely to see if the team can shake off this blip and finish in style, retaining their championship-winning form.