'It was avoidable': Arne Slot aims subtle dig at £35m Liverpool man despite 'brilliant' performance vs Wolves
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Liverpool secured yet another win in the Premier League with a nervy 2-1 result against Wolves away from home.
The Reds’ defence were the stars of the show for Arne Slot’s side with Michael Owen praising Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate for their performances on the night at Molineux, where Liverpool were far from their best.
With Manchester City slipping up against Newcastle United, Liverpool’s win put the Anfield side a point clear at the top of the Premier League standings with the Reds also having the best goal difference in the division this season.
Yet Slot seemingly made a subtle dig aimed towards Konate after the full-time whistle.
Slot blames Konate for Liverpool’s conceded goal vs Wolves
Speaking to Sky Sports, Slot shut down the idea that the French defender believed he should have been named Man of the Match against Wolves, with Konate jokingly making that claim at full-time after handing Ryan Gravenberch the award.
Slot said when asked about Konate’s comments on being Man of the Match: “Konate? Then maybe he forgot the moment we conceded a goal. That was the reason we conceded as he wasn’t there and it was avoidable.”
With Gary Neville also saying Konate was at fault for Wolves’ goal, it makes sense why the likes of Slot are not so sold on the idea of the former RB Leipzig star saying he believed he should have been named Man of the Match.
Indeed, the 25-year-old did enjoy a great game against Wolves and was key to Liverpool holding on for as long as they did against Gary O’Neil’s side, yet the £35m French defender also needs to hold himself if he is to truly progress in his role with the Reds.
Konate still has much to learn from the likes of Van Dijk
At 25-years-old, Konate is still relatively young in the context of life as a top-level defender, with the centre-back still having a lot to learn if he is to truly become one of the best in the world in his position.
And playing alongside Van Dijk, Konate has the best teacher out there when it comes to picking up the lessons that matter most in the art of defender and when it comes to how to act as a professional.
Indeed, Konate’s Dutch counterpart has been one of the best in the world for the best part of seven years since moving to Liverpool, and the Liverpool no. 4 can learn a lot from Van Dijk on how to conduct himself both on and off the pitch.
