Liverpool star outshone the “greatest defender on the planet” for his nation

Liverpool reached a important juncture on the finish of the 2023/24 season, with Jurgen Klopp stepping down and arguably the membership’s three strongest gamers—Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Mohamed Salah—approaching the conclusive yr of their contracts.

Klopp’s gone and the esteemed triumvirate’s futures nonetheless stretch into foggy uncertainty. However Arne Slot is proving himself to be fairly the successor – with Michael Edwards again within the boardroom, was there ever any doubt?

The squad have gone from energy to energy this season, successful 9 from ten throughout all competitions and perching atop the Premier League desk after seven fixtures, albeit with a horrible run of fixtures arising.

The one stain on the report got here instantly after the September worldwide break, with Nottingham Forest stunning Anfield and coming away with a 1-0 victory. Slot will hope that his gamers have stored their fluency intact this time.

Liverpool’s worldwide break

Liverpool have had an entire host of gamers performing for his or her nations over the previous week and whereas Slot is again on the coaching floor getting ready for the looming fixture towards Chelsea, the squad will filter by means of little by little.

Salah is amongst these to have returned early, having been granted depart from Egypt’s camp final weekend after scoring throughout a 2-0 victory over Mauritania. Virgil van Dijk additionally performed only one match after being despatched off towards Dominik Szoboszlai’s Hungary on Friday night.

Recent legs from two of the membership’s most vital stars might be essential forward of the Chelsea sport – Van Dijk specifically will shoulder the robust activity of subduing Cole Palmer and co.

With Van Dijk absent, the Netherlands have been defeated by Germany on Monday night, with Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo each flattering to deceive of their worst shows of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, by a stretch.

For the Three Lions, Alexander-Arnold picked up one more Man of the Match award in his post-Gareth Southgate world, with Curtis Jones additionally receiving a call-up however not incomes his first senior cap, returning early as a result of start of his daughter.

Ibrahima Konate additionally showcased his defensive acumen for France, successful matches towards Israel and Belgium and even being awarded the armband within the latter in a major act of help from Didier Deschamps.

Ibrahima Konate’s efficiency vs Belgium

Van Dijk has earned all of the plaudits for his performances in defence this season – and rightly so. However let’s spare a second to hail the standard of Konate, who has raised his sport a number of levels after truly fizzling out beneath Klopp final yr.

Lengthy acknowledged for his high-level skillset but in addition a propensity for errors and an injury-ridden report, Konate has proved the doubters unsuitable and is now an intrinsic a part of Slot’s table-topping Liverpool, who’ve conceded twice from seven Premier League fixtures.

His performances at membership degree have translated over to Les Bleus, for Konate has been a pillar over the previous few matches, making a sequence of essential clearances towards Belgium in a storming show that noticed him trump his central defensive associate William Saliba by a ways.

Of their post-match scores, Get French Soccer Information handed him a 6/10 match ranking. Nothing particular, however a quantity bettered solely by Randal Kolo Muani, who bagged a brace within the 2-1 victory. Saliba, conversely, was slapped with a 3/10 rating after a torrid outing.

The Arsenal centre-back – who has beforehand been described because the “greatest defender on the planet” by compatriot Frank LeBoeuf – misplaced each of his floor duels, conceded the penalty which Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans blazed over, whereas additionally making a direct error which led to an excellent Belgium alternative.

He was overshadowed by Konate’s composed and imposing presence, who will probably be heading again to Merseyside filled with confidence that he can certainly hold the Blues at bay on Sunday – earlier than testing his metallic towards Arsenal and Saliba on the Emirates Stadium only one week later.

Ibrahima Konate’s significance for Arne Slot

The 6 foot 4 Konate has began eight of Liverpool’s 9 mixed Premier League and Champions League fixtures this season, scoring twice and registering an help.

He was launched at half-time for Jarell Quansah on the opening day towards Ipswich City and has not been dislodged since, along with his youthful positional peer restricted to Carabao Cup alternatives to showcase his expertise.

That is attention-grabbing, for the 25-year-old played from the outset throughout six of the Reds’ first 16 top-flight video games final yr. Actually, Konate has by no means accomplished greater than 17 league begins in a single yr since becoming a member of from RB Leipzig in a £36m deal in 2021, one thing that he appears to be like prone to eclipse beneath Slot’s wing.

As per FBref, the French titan ranks among the many prime 12% of Premier League centre-backs this season for objectives scored and assists claimed (0.16), in addition to the highest 5% for aerial battles received per 90 (3.95).

Furthermore, these aerial battles have been received at an absurd success charge of 86.5%, which surpasses even that of the famend headed phenomenon Van Dijk, whose success charge is marked at ‘simply’ 73% this season.

There’s a lot soccer but to play – who is aware of how Konate will fare because the forthcoming interval ramps up and the gruelling run of video games buffet Liverpool like hail.

However the indicators are there that he is reached a unique degree this yr, and alongside Van Dijk, something is feasible. In any case, on condition that he is outstripped Saliba for France, he is clearly acquired the instruments for the event.

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