Liverpool star escapes Virgil van Dijk's shadow as Arne Slot urged to seal vital transfer
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A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as a star earns praise for escaping Virgil van Dijk's shadow and Mohamed Salah's relationship with the Reds comes into focus.
Jamie Carragher urges Liverpool to sign Martin Zubimendi to win the Premier League
Five points may sit between early leaders Liverpool and reigning champions Manchester City atop the Premier League table at the November international break. But if the Anfield squad are to win the title, Jamie Carragher has urged the club to sign Martin Zubimendi in January.
Carragher is adamant that Zubimendi could prove the difference in the title race as Arne Slot targeted the Spaniard after becoming Liverpool's head coach in the summer. He admires the work Ryan Gravenberch has produced since, but feels it would be a mistake to not try again.
The Reds legend lives in fear that Manchester City will turn the table on Liverpool during the upcoming Christmas schedule. It might even be the case that Slot never gets another shot at guiding Liverpool to a Premier League title. So, he should be all-in on signing Zubimendi still.
"Zubimendi is the player he wanted," Carragher noted on Stick to Football. "They ended up putting Gravenberch there who has been fantastic, but if he is the player you want – go and do it – you might never be in this position.
"You might be here three years but City are City and they are five points ahead of you at Christmas. Just make it count."
Read more about what Carragher has said about Liverpool's interest in Zubimendi, here.
Mohamed Salah and Liverpool have a better relationship now Arne Slot is in charge
Liverpool are on 'a lot better terms' with Mohamed Salah and the Egypt winger's camp now Arne Slot is at the club. That is according to Graeme Bailey, who has exclusively told Rousing The Kop that the mood between the two parties has improved since Jurgen Klopp departed.
The distance between the two camps has reduced in recent months and Salah will no longer catch Liverpool by surprise with whatever decision the 32-year-old makes for his future. The forward is currently due to be out of contract on June 30 but could yet agree to fresh terms.
Should Salah agree to stay at Anfield, it would be in no small part due to Slot as the attacker is 'very impressed' with the Dutchman's tactics. Slot's system has so far seen Salah score 10 goals and 10 assists in 17 matches but Liverpool risk seeing his influence walk away for free.
Read more about what Bailey has said about Salah's relationship with Liverpool, here.
Ibrahima Konate is 'coming out of Virgil van Dijk's shadow' at Liverpool
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has astounded Martin Keown with his start to the term. So much so, in fact, that the Arsenal icon now feels the Frenchman might have also eclipsed Virgil van Dijk to be the best centre-back at Anfield following his very well-rounded displays.
Konate has been an integral cog in the Reds' backline this term with 14 appearances across all competitions. He has also appeared in all 16 available games, including starting 10 of the 25-year-old's 11 Premier League outings to help Liverpool record the best defensive record.
Van Dijk has played in 15 games after not featuring in the Carabao Cup thus far. His work in the top-flight beside Konate has seen Liverpool keep six clean sheets to six goals conceded. But Keown feels Konate, not Van Dijk, has had a bigger role in Liverpool's defensive success.
"What I do see at Liverpool is Konate being quite outstanding," Keown told talkSPORT. "He's probably gone ahead of Van Dijk. The way that he gets tight to people, his mobility, his confidence [and] every area of the game, he's looking quite awesome.
"They've hardly conceded any goals this season. I know it's about a partnership. But he looks like he's coming out of the shadow of Van Dijk, so Konate is probably the best one."
Read more about what Keown has said about Liverpool duo Konate and Van Dijk, here.
