Slot singles Konate out for praise days after slamming the Liverpool defender | OneFootball

Liverpool claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win over Inter Milan to halt their abysmal run of form.

The Reds overcame the Italians thanks to a late, controversial penalty converted by Dominik Szoboslai.

Liverpool kept Inter at bay thanks to magnificent defending from Ibrahima Konate and Virgil Van Dijk.

Konate also scored but saw his goal disallowed for a handball in the build-up. The Frenchman gave a better account of himself than in his recent showings.

Konate won 4/6 duels, made three clearances, one interception, and was much better with the ball.

Manager Arne Slot singled him out for praise in his post-match press conference.

Slot said (via Sky Sports), “I would like to highlight one player because he has been highlighted in a negative way, and that is Konate.

“I don’t think him and Virgil made a mistake at all.”

Slot is one of those who have criticised Konate this season, recently publicly stating how the centre-back is a bit too much at the crime scene.

However, this performance was a step in the right direction for Konate as he bids to find his groove in what could be his final months at Anfield.

The former RB Leipzig star is in the final year of his contract at the club and will want to avoid leaving with a tarnished reputation.

He will hope to build on this display when Liverpool welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Anfield this weekend.

And that is where Liverpool’s path back to the top may lie. For all the talk about misfiring attackers or tactical tweaks under Slot, this team was built on defensive authority.

Van Dijk, who has endured a turbulent season of his own, looked far closer to his commanding best against Inter.

Alongside him, Konate’s revival could be the catalyst Liverpool desperately need.

If Slot can keep Konate on this trajectory while coaxing Van Dijk back to form, Liverpool’s recent slump may yet be a temporary wobble.