Ibrahima Konate and Alexis Mac Allister send Liverpool messages as Premier League vow made

Liverpool stars Ibrahima Konate and Alexis Mac Allister have sent messages on social media following the defeat to Newcastle

Liverpool duo Ibrahima Konate and Alexis Mac Allister have sent messages on social media after a difficult week for Arne Slot's team. The Reds crashed out of the Champions League on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain before losing to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.

It marked Liverpool's most difficult period of the season, with Slot's team enjoying an almost flawless campaign up to that point. The Reds are well on course to win a record-equalling 20th English top-flight league title in their Dutch manager's first season in charge on Merseyside.

Liverpool sit 12 points clear of second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League table. Slot's men have just nine games left to play, and both Konate and Mac Allister have sent messages on Instagram as the Reds prepare to enter the final months of the season.

"We are all disappointed after yesterday’s [Sunday's] result but thank you for staying with us throughout the game," Konate said. "We will be back and we will improve. Now it’s time for international break and then a big push going into the last months of the season."

Mac Allister, meanwhile, wrote: "Painful week for us but It doesn’t change the great things we’ve done this season, especially in the Premier League. Time to stick together and go for it after international break."

Speaking after the League Cup final defeat, Slot denied the suggestion that Liverpool's opponents wanted it more on the day.

“It was a game that went the way they wanted it to go,” said the Reds boss. “They got some extra energy just before half-time with the goal they probably deserved as they were threatening us more.

“We were outplayed in their style, that is true. That is what you can call outplayed, they won more duels than us. Newcastle deserved to win as the game went in the way they wanted it to go.

“It wasn’t like we were only running after them, we had to defend a lot of long balls and second balls and that’s their strength.

“I don’t think there was more hunger from them. They are stronger in that part of football than us and that’s why they beat us."