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Jurgen Klopp's track record shows Ibrahima Konate what to expect at Liverpool

mirror.co.uk, 17 September 2021, 04:30

Very rarely do players make an instant impact at Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.

The likes of Alisson and Virgil van Dijk are exceptions to the rule, as the vast majority of players who have arrived at Anfield in recent years have been made to wait to earn the minutes they crave.

Andy Robertson was made to wait before taking Alberto Moreno's spot in the starting XI and Thiago's efforts to nail down a midfield berth remain a work in progress after his arrival last summer.

Even Fabinho - a £39million signing three years ago - had to wait until Liverpool's 10th game of the 2018/19 Premier League season before he was entrusted with his first start.

Ibrahima Konate's only minutes for Liverpool so far came during pre-season

The fact of the matter is it takes many months to adapt to life under Klopp, whose rigorous fitness, pressing and positional expectations have been the bedrock of the Reds' recent success.

Ibrahima Konate knows all about working with a world-class coach with such demands having spent the last two seasons under Julian Nagelsmann at RB Leipzig.

Nonetheless, the Frenchman may feel slightly disappointed not to have played a single minute of football for Liverpool since his £35million arrival this summer.

Konate has been an unused substitute in all five of the Reds' games this season and Klopp preferred to partner Joel Matip with Joe Gomez in the 3-2 victory over Milan as he handed Virgil van Dijk a rest.

The 22-year-old has lofty ambitions and earlier this month he spoke of his desire to line up alongside Van Dijk.

"Virgil is incredible, I can't wait to play alongside him and learn from him," Konate told HypeBeast. "He's truly one of the best in the world in that position."

Who is the greatest No. 9 in Liverpool's history? Comment below.

While Konate has undoubtedly been learning from the Dutchman in training, he is yet to fulfil the other half of his aim.

His wait for a first start in central defence is likely to continue beyond this weekend too, as Klopp appears to have settled on Van Dijk and Matip as his first-choice partnership in the Premier League.

As such, Konate may hope to feature in the trip to Norwich City in the Carabao Cup third round next Tuesday, rather than the home clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Jurgen Klopp is sure to call on Ibrahima Konate before long - but he must be patient

Whether or not he is handed minutes over the next few days, the France Under-21 star must bide his time to break into the team.

Konate's task is certainly made harder by the prowess of fellow centre-backs Van Dijk, Matip and Gomez, but his own technical ability and 6'4" frame mean he is impossible to ignore.

His patience will not go unrewarded.

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