Konate is showing why Liverpool rushed him back from injury

The Frenchman is back to his best after recovering from a knee issue sustained against Real Madrid.

Photo: IMAGO | Anfield Index

If Arne Slot was given any cause to criticise Ibrahima Konate last week, it would surely have related to his unnecessary honesty in a pre-match press conference.

Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s midweek clash with Lille, the Frenchman set tongues wagging with an admission that he had been rushed back from a recent knee injury.

It is not unusual for professional footballers to use painkillers, or to play through pain, but Konate’s words seemed to signal a departure from the usual cautious approach of a new-look medical team.

Clearly, this is a player who is viewed internally as more important than many of his teammates, a lofty status he has backed up with performances of late.

It may have taken Konate a little while to shake off the ring rust after his injury, but he signalled a return to his imperious best as Ipswich were beaten at Anfield on Saturday.

The detractors might well say that the 25-year-old is aided by having an all-time great alongside him in Virgil van Dijk, but the reality is that this fact can actually often work against him.

A desire from opposition forwards to avoid Liverpool’s captain means they instead pull to the other side of the pitch, as shown by Konate getting through far more defensive work at the weekend.