Ibrahima Konate experienced ups and downs in 2022–23, but on the field, the center-back has unquestionably been among Liverpool’s stronger choices.
Although it’s fair to say there have been a few mistakes and missteps along the way, the France international has been at ease in the starting lineup nearly since he came through the door.
That isn’t an enormous surprise considering both the team’s high-risk approach to games and the No.5’s own youthfulness, which is easy to forget at times, but the payoff for his greater volume of big performances is very high indeed.
He’s one of the first names on the teamsheet for most fans, though it could be questioned whether that is always down to his own ability or the fall-off from potential challengers for that spot in the team
However, Konate has already produced more than one game-winning performance for Jurgen Klopp’s squad and is essentially a key part of the team’s plans for the now and the future.
Even though we know this guy has the potential to rank among the greatest in Europe, we still feel that he should be doing more.
But not having yet fulfilled his enormous potential is a million miles from being the most pressing issue of the season – and this year was, overall, a step forward in his evolution as a player.
From Konate’s perspective, the first half of the season was uncomfortably routine: he was away too frequently, sidelined with an injury, watching on and unable to help the club.
On the one hand, he avoids the majority of the worst criticism of the team, which was largely abominable for a while, especially defensively, by not being on it during that time.
On the other hand, he could have helped the Reds by making them less terrible, providing options, increasing competition for positions, or, who knows, by going on a run of form to just firefight and fill up all the countless, countless spaces that were left.
But he wasn’t available.
Between the opening league game of the season and the opening league game of 2023, Ibou was on the pitch for 111 Premier League minutes. He started just once.
Notably – or not, you decide – Liverpool won that match he started, and also won both the Champions League group games he was available for.
Even yet, he only had 280 minutes of playing time when he left for the World Cup, a pitifully low total for a centre-back who was meant to be the starter.
He did, however, prove his value on the few occasions he was present, and he did it once again in Qatar for France.
He made two starts in each of the three games during the group stage, played admirably in the semifinal, and then made a brief appearance in the championship game.
No glory, ultimately, but certainly a great example of what he’s capable of in short spells.
From a Liverpool perspective, it was great to see him back to fitness and contributing with big performances, but tinged with frustration that he hadn’t been able to do so from August until that point.
An extra week or two absence after reaching the final meant Ibou didn’t return to the lineup until January 2, but that only coincided with the worst performances of the season from the team as a whole: 3-0 to Brentford, 3-0 to Brighton.
Another short, enforced absence meant Konate actually missed the start of what was the new-look Liverpool, so his return to the team – home to Wolves in March and just his fifth league start of the campaign – was his first taste of a decidedly different job.
The biggest knock-on effects of Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s altered role is felt by the defenders on either side of Virgil van Dijk – normally the right-centre-back and the left-back, now perhaps simply the side defenders in a three in possession.
Konate still has all of his usual jobs to do when in defensive phases, but additionally when the Reds have the ball, he’s required to filter wider to take possession in the channel, sprint that side as cover when teams counter down their left wing and often be all the way over to the byline, an old-fashioned right-back by position.
Pleasingly, he has every attribute to do this varied and extensive role.
speed across the ground has already proven vital, but also his willingness to be super-aggressive in the tackle, relentless in attacking forwards as they receive play and his all-round physical dominance make him extremely difficult to bypass – especially when trying to run onto longer balls in the channels.
Add in the general aerial play and defensive awareness in a more normal central spot, and he remains an exceptionally talented young defender with plenty of room to get better.
Part of the reason for the Reds’ improvement in results over the last few weeks of the season was definitely down to his ability to take on board and boss his new approach in the team.
However, there’s definitely a lot of work to do to provide him with the necessary organisation and protection in front of himIt shouldn’t really be too much of a question over what happens next for Konate.
His age, ceiling and current physical and technical prowess all make him a standout candidate to play a leading role in the latest rebuild for Klop
There have been tentative early-summer rumours of players who would fit or replace the Konate role, such as Jules Kounde, but given the level of investment needed elsewhere it would be astonishing to see a right-sided centre-back brought in to challenge Iboup.
There is clearly a case to be made that Konate, if he keeps healthy, can go on to establish himself as the most important defender in the club moving ahead, especially because Van Dijk hasn’t consistently displayed the world-class level of play he is capable of.
There are still areas in his game that he needs to work on, including resilience, consistently playing out from the back, and focus in maintaining the line. except with all the resources at his disposal, it’s difficult to envisage anything except long-term success.
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