Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hails Ibrahima Konate after impressive stats emerges and he’s just behind Mo’ Salah

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hails Ibrahima Konate after impressive stats emerges and he’s just behind Mo’ Salah

The liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has lauded his young center back Ibrahima Konate as a “physically outstanding” footballer, with an impressive statistic showing the raw quality he offers to Liverpool.

Ibrahima Konate has undoubtedly made a strong start to life at Anfield, with the Frenchman yet to taste defeat in any of his 19 appearances so far for the reds – including 14 wins.

Roberto Firmino and Ibrahima Konate (photo by Getty images)

He has served as an alternative to Virgil van Dijk‘s first-choice partner Joel Matip, with the expectation being that he eventually takes over as a regular starter.

For that, Klopp is looking for his No. 5 to improve his concentration, saying in January: “When you are that skilled, that quick, that strong, then it’s pretty normal, especially when you are young, that your concentration level drops from time to time.”

The manager praised Konate as “physically outstanding,” and watching him throughout his first campaign at Anfield, it is clear that his strength and power could be moulded into an elite centre-back.

Jurgen Klopp’s admission that the 22-year-old is “that quick” has been highlighted by a new statistic courtesy of Opta:

Throughout the Premier League season so far, only Antonio Rudiger (36.7km/h), Mohamed Salah (36.6km/h) and Adama Traore (36.6km/h) have an impressive record of a higher top speed than Ibrahima Konate (36.2km/h).

The young Frenchman Ibrahima Konate is impressively, faster than Leicester striker Patson Daka, who Van Dijk described as ‘crazy quick’ after the 2-0 win at Anfield last month.

But this statistic does highlight the speed in which the youngster is able to pair with his immense strength, which makes him an ideal centre-back within Liverpool’s defense.

In other news, Liverpool confirms 4 of their fixtures have been rescheduled for live Tv. coverage