‘Outstanding’: BBC Sport pundit wowed by £36m Liverpool man who ‘absolutely destroyed’ City

Mon 18 April 2022 8:15, UK

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has made it into Garth Crooks’ latest Team of the Week on .

The 22-year-old once again delivered a solid performance, complete with headed opening goal, at the weekend.

Konate helped Liverpool run out 3-2 winners over Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday.

The Reds raced into a 3-0 lead at half-time and, though they had to weather a late storm, got over the line.

Jurgen Klopp’s charges took the lead after just nine minutes through a thumping Konate header.

The Frenchman has nodded home the opener for Liverpool in both legs against Benfica and now against City.

Then, City goalkeeper Zack Steffen gifted Mane a second in the 17th minute.

He hesitated for far too long after controlling a back pass.

This allowed the £34million forward to run into the box and slide the ball into the net.

Mane then went on to add a third, capping off a superb team move to volley in at the near post.

However, City fought back in the second half and came close to forcing extra time.

Jack Grealish pulled one back for City early in the second half, before Bernardo Silva slotted home in the 90th minute.

“Adds a dangerous element”

Konate is one of two Liverpool players Crooks has named in his latest TOTW XI, alongside Mane.

“Three goals in three games tells you all you need to know about the form and attacking prowess of Konate.

“While everyone is watching Virgil van Dijk on set-pieces, Konate has been cleaning up.

“The Frenchman has been outstanding in recent games and adds a dangerous element in attack for Liverpool in dead-ball situations.

“Konate absolutely destroyed Nathan Ake in the air to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead in the FA Cup semi-final.”

Klopp has used Konate sparingly over the course of the campaign.

With the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip ahead of him in the pecking order, it’s not surprising.

Nonetheless, 19 of Konate’s 22 appearances for Liverpool this season have been starts.

This shows how much Klopp trusts the star to impress from the off.

In addition, Konate has started five Champions League matches this season.

Van Dijk and Matip are both 30, so it’s important for Klopp to keep an eye out on successors.

In Konate, he already has one – at just 22, he’s developing into one of the best young defenders in the league.

It’ll be exciting to see just how much Konate can progress over the coming years.