Like so many gamers within the squad, Ibrahima Konate had his ups and downs in 2022/23 – although performance-wise, the centre-back has definitely been amongst Liverpool’s higher choices.
The France worldwide has checked out house within the lineup virtually since he walked by means of the door, although it’s honest to say there have been just a few errors and stumbles alongside the way in which too.
That isn’t an unlimited shock contemplating each the group’s high-risk strategy to video games and the No.5’s personal youthfulness, which is straightforward to neglect at instances, however the payoff for his higher quantity of massive performances may be very excessive certainly.
He’s one of many first names on the teamsheet for many followers, although it could possibly be questioned whether or not that’s all the time right down to his personal skill or the fall-off from potential challengers for that spot within the group.
Even so, Konate is mainly a giant element of the group’s plans for the current and the long run and he has already had a couple of match-winning show for Jurgen Klopp‘s group.
We’re nonetheless left wanting barely extra from a participant who can definitely be so good he’s amongst Europe’s greatest.
However not having but fulfilled his monumental potential is one million miles from being essentially the most urgent situation of the season – and this yr was, general, a step ahead in his evolution as a participant.
Ibrahima Konate, 2022/23
Began: 23 (All competitions)On in its place: 1Unused sub: 7Goals: 0Assists: 0Overall Season Score: 7
Including to the problems or fonder by absence?
The primary half of the marketing campaign for Konate was an sadly acquainted one from his perspective: absent too typically, sidelined with harm, watching on and unable to help the group.
On the one hand, him not being within the group throughout that interval means he escapes many of the worst criticism of the group, who have been largely diabolical for a interval, particularly defensively.
On the opposite, he naturally may have aided the Reds being not fairly so dangerous, or having options, pushing competitors for locations or, who is aware of, maybe having a run of type to easily firefight and plug all the numerous, many gaps that have been left.
However he wasn’t accessible.
Between the opening league sport of the season and the opening league sport of 2023, Ibou was on the pitch for 111 Premier League minutes. He began simply as soon as.
Notably – or not, you resolve – Liverpool gained that match he began, and likewise gained each the Champions League group video games he was accessible for.
However he nonetheless headed off to the World Cup with simply 280 minutes of motion to his identify; a woefully low tally for a supposed first-choice centre-back.
Nonetheless, he definitely confirmed his value on these rare events when he was round – and did so once more in Qatar for France.
There, he performed in all three group stage video games with two begins, then performed magnificently within the semi-final, too – earlier than a late cameo within the closing itself.
No glory, finally, however definitely an incredible instance of what he’s able to briefly spells.
From a Liverpool perspective, it was nice to see him again to health and contributing with huge performances, however tinged with frustration that he hadn’t been in a position to take action from August till that time.
A positive match for a tactical wrinkle
An additional week or two absence after reaching the ultimate meant Ibou didn’t return to the lineup till January 2, however that solely coincided with the worst performances of the season from the group as an entire: 3-0 to Brentford, 3-0 to Brighton.
One other brief, enforced absence meant Konate really missed the beginning of what was the new-look Liverpool, so his return to the group – house to Wolves in March and simply his fifth league begin of the marketing campaign – was his first style of a decidedly completely different job.
The largest knock-on results of Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s altered function is felt by the defenders on both aspect of Virgil van Dijk – usually the right-centre-back and the left-back, now maybe merely the aspect defenders in a 3 in possession.
Konate nonetheless has all of his normal jobs to do when in defensive phases, however moreover when the Reds have the ball, he’s required to filter wider to take possession within the channel, dash that aspect as cowl when groups counter down their left wing and infrequently be all the way in which over to the byline, an old style right-back by place.
Pleasingly, he has each attribute to do that diverse and in depth function.
Konate’s pace throughout the bottom has already confirmed very important, but additionally his willingness to be super-aggressive within the deal with, relentless in attacking forwards as they obtain play and his all-round bodily dominance make him extraordinarily tough to bypass – particularly when attempting to run onto longer balls within the channels.
Add within the basic aerial play and defensive consciousness in a extra regular central spot, and he stays an exceptionally proficient younger defender with loads of room to get higher.
A part of the explanation for the Reds’ enchancment in outcomes over the previous few weeks of the season was positively right down to his skill to tackle board and boss his new strategy within the group.
Nonetheless, there’s positively a number of work to do to supply him with the mandatory organisation and safety in entrance of him.
Chief of the again line
It shouldn’t actually be an excessive amount of of a query over what occurs subsequent for Konate.
His age, ceiling and present bodily and technical prowess all make him a standout candidate to play a number one function within the newest rebuild for Klopp.
There have been tentative early-summer rumours of gamers who would match or change the Konate function, akin to Jules Kounde, however given the extent of funding wanted elsewhere it could be astonishing to see a right-sided centre-back introduced in to problem Ibou.
With Van Dijk not having proven the constant world-class stage he’s able to this yr both, there’s positively a case to be made that Konate, if he stays match, can go on to determine himself as an important defender within the group going ahead.
There are nonetheless points of his sport to enhance – resilience, enjoying out from the again constantly and focus in preserving the road are all up there – however he has so many instruments to work with, it’s laborious to see something however a long-term success.
Greatest second: Efficiency in opposition to Leicester was perhaps his better of the marketing campaign and confirmed his significance as a protecting participant down our proper defensive channel.
Worst second: Again-to-back outings in opposition to Brentford and Brighton have been dismal straight after his harm.
Position subsequent season: First-team starter.
