Konaté discusses Liverpool’s season and what obstacles remain this season, despite their strong position.
As Liverpool fans, we’ve had worse problems on our collective plate than worrying about the teams below the Reds gunning for them. But right now the Reds are first in the Premier League, a seeded position in the round of 16 in the Champions League, and about to play the second leg of the semi-final of the League Cup.
So pretty good, I’d say. But being the team of the moment means that they are also the team to beat, and Arne Slot’s men need to be vigilant in the second half of this season to remain on top.
Ibrahima Konaté discussed this earlier this week, recognizing that they are far from done.
“But I think the most important thing is that we start again and we work even harder because we’re into the second part of the season now,” he said.
“We have to work a lot because everyone wants to beat us, so we just have to keep going all the way to the end. It will be very difficult and we have to work so, so hard just to keep going and remain calm.”
While the team contains several seasoned veterans who are used to the pressure of these big moments, Konaté included, others are experiencing it for the first time.
Konaté is notoriously injury-prone, and unfortunately this season has proved to be no different. However, he has been available to pair with Virgil van Dijk in the back for a good block of games.
With a partner of van Dijk’s caliber, Konaté has high expectations for what they can achieve.
“On the pitch 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,” he said.
“For me personally, before I had my injury [in late November] I think we were on the top level and I think a lot of people felt that as well, but we know that we just have to keep going in this way.”
Their 2-0 victory against Bournemouth at the weekend was a good way to help them achieve that goal.