Virgil van Dijk sends clear Ibrahima Konate message and lifts lid on Hugo Ekitike's Liverpool form

Van Dijk

Liverpool made it back-to-back clean sheets as well as wins by beating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 on Saturday.

In this difficult campaign, it is only the third time they have managed such a feat.

On both previous occasions, after defeating Arsenal and Burnley and then Aston Villa and Real Madrid, Arne Slot’s side were unable to extend such a run to three shut-outs.

But now five games unbeaten after a run of nine losses from 12 matches, Liverpool will hope it is a different story when they travel to Tottenham Hotspur next weekend. Having impressed against both Inter Milan and Brighton,

Slot will hope his side have turned a corner heading into the Premier League festive period.

what a difference a week makes too. Last weekend, the Reds were contending with the ongoing fall-out from Mohamed Salah’s explosive comments against his head coach and the club after being left unused against Leeds United.

Liverpool had led 2-0 before taking a 3-2 lead late on at Elland Road, only to be pegged back once more by a 96th-minute equaliser.

With Slot already under pressure, criticism from one of his star players inevitably did not aid matters - though that has now been resolved ahead of the Egyptian’s departure for Africa Cup of Nations duty.

While Salah has inevitably been the major talking point around Anfield since his comments at Elland Road, Ibrahima Konatecame in for fresh criticism for his part in the 3-3 draw.

It was his rash foul that gifted Leeds the opportunity to first halve the deficit from the penalty spot as the Reds’ defence frailties once again became apparent.

Slot would later concede that Konate has been “on the crime scene” too often this season after his latest mistake.

The France international remains out of contract at the end of the summer and will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any overseas club from January 1.

While reports overseas claim Real Madrid are no longer interested in the defender, the ongoing speculation and uncertainty around his future has earned him little sympathy in the face of such errors, with Liverpool supporters still stung by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s own Bosman move to the Bernabeu.

But Konate is aware of this, having conceded during the November international break that the ongoing contract saga gets him ‘into trouble’ with supporters.

Only he will know just how much of an impact it has had on him in a campaign littered with mistakes and inconsistencies.

Fortunately for the Frenchman, his latest faux pas was at least followed by two much-improved performances against Inter Milan and Brighton, with the 26-year-old emerging as arguably Liverpool’s most impressive defender in both games.

captain Virgil van Dijk was full of praise for his defensive partner following the latest victory as he credited Konate for his response after last week’s mistake at Leeds.

Van Dijk

“It's obviously the basis to success, to not concede chances, let alone goals,” the skipper told reporters.

“Unfortunately we conceded far too many and that's the reality, but we can only look ahead, try to avoid goals, and that's what we did in the last two games.

“The season is very long and we want to keep doing that but obviously it's a lot of work that will be needed. Everyone at his best helps, everyone in the team, that's why it's a team sport.

“bou is a fantastic defender and obviously when the team is not performing as a collective, then we as the last line can be exposed.

“That happened at times as well as individual mistakes costing us, including myself at times. Unfortunately that's part of the game.

“It's how you deal with it, how you react to it. Ibou as an example has been, in the last two games, especially outstanding.

“He's working on things like we all do, he helps me, I help him, and that's how it should be.

“We are not perfect, he wants the best for the club, and I'm pretty sure that will be absolutely fine.”

Van Dijk continued: “I've been very fortunate at Anfield to win a lot of games and keep clean sheets and feel like there's no way a team can beat us here, and that feeling was incredible.

While Konate has struggled at times this season, compatriot Hugo Ekitike has been a shining light for Liverpool.

The France international now has 10 goals for the campaign, after scoring back-to-back Premier League braces against Leeds and Brighton.

With such figures coming in a season when the Reds have not been at their best, Ekitike has certainly made a positive impact on Van Dijk.

Van Dijk Said

“I think he's doing well obviously,”

“Very clinical, I think, great finish. The corner obviously as well.

“I was also behind him but he did it himself! Obviously he's important with his goals and his hard work that he put in.

“He wants more from himself and we all want a lot from him and the rest of the team.

It's not been an easy season but for him to come in and produce these numbers, that's something we need, we want and he wants.

“He just has to stay calm and keep working and help himself but also the rest of the team and Alex (Isak) as well to be in their best shape. I'm pretty sure he will be fine.”

Given Liverpool’s struggles at times this season, Slot has inevitably found himself under pressure.

“But the Reds head coach retains the backing of Van Dijk and his dressing room, despite the storm created by Salah’s comments last weekend.”

“I think he's handled the situation very well,” he said. “Calm, in his own way.

“It's a very tricky situation, there's a lot of noise and pressure from the outside world and rightly so because we have not been close to the standard that we showed last season.

“But we are all human beings and everyone reacts in a certain way and can deal with situations in a certain way.

“But I think personally looking at it and the conversations we both had on a daily basis, I think he handled it very well. We just have to keep going.

“He's obviously at a club that is a very together club and that's how it's been before our time at the club and it's something we have to keep going.

“We go through the good times together as a team, as a club, as a fanbase, and sometimes when difficult moments arise we also have to stick together.

“I think this moment of time is a very good moment to see how everyone responds to that. I think the manager did perfectly so far.”

#ad Buy Alan Hansen Back Signed Liverpool 1986 Football Shirt - https://amzn.to/48Pr9y1