
Ibrahima Konate claims that he and Virgil van Dijk want to be “the best defensive partnership in the world”.
Konate and Van Dijk helped Liverpool to reach the municipal defense in the Premier League and they have only given 21 goals. The center of France fought the competition in Anfield to become Van Dijk's familiar partner under head coach Arne Slot and he says he has learned so much from the Dutch star.
Konate, 25, looked at Van Dijk when he was at RB Leipzig, but he did not realize how good he was until he started working with him in Liverpool in 2021. He says and lets them believe they can't beat him.
“What a defender!” he said. “I think when we talk about him and what he did, it is incredible. I have a very good relationship with Virgil on the field and outside the field. When I came here as a 21-year-old, he gave me a lot of advice and helped me here with my adjustment.
“When I was in Leipzig, I looked at some Liverpool games and I didn't know how good he was. When I came here, I would sometimes think: “No, how is this possible?”
“Now I think that because he is too good, see some strikers virgil and just think:” I don't have a chance against him “. On the field I need him and I think it's the same way for him, hopefully! I know how good he can be for me and we just work together and try to be the best partnership in the world ”
On Thursday, Liverpool can maintain their perfect season in Anfield if they can destroy the 1-0 lead of Tottenham from the semi-final of the Carabao Cup and return to the final in Wembley on 16 March. The Reds chase glory on four fronts and Konate says they have to work “even more difficult” to keep their search for silverware.
“We had a good start and everything is good for us at the moment, even in the Champions League,” he said. “But I think the most important thing is that we start again and that we work even harder because we are now in the second part of the season.
“We have to work a lot because everyone wants to beat us, so we just have to go all the way to the end. “It will be very difficult and we have to work that way, so hard to continue and stay calm.”
Konate has his eyes on lifting a first Premier League title because it is the only domestic trophy that he has not yet won and Liverpool his six points free from Arsenal, with a match in hand.
“Of course, this title is the only one who is missing between my hands in England and I really hope we will achieve that this season,” he said. “We know that all our fans are behind us and we have to do everything to achieve this.”
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