Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has enjoyed a strong start to the season, but he’s not the only one to shine since Arne Slot stepped into the Anfield dugout.
Michael Owen reckons Ibrahima Konate has the potential to reach Virgil van Dijk-like performance levels should he stay at Liverpool for years to come. Konate has now been with the Reds since 2021 and has gradually progressed as a player during that period – making a particular mark of late.
Learning from the best in the business has certainly aided the development of the Frenchman, who remains some away from Van Dijk in quality. After scoring in Liverpool’s impressive 3-1 Champions League triumph away to Italian giants AC Milan, Konate followed that up another headed effort on target, against Wolves, to help Arne Slot’s team on their way to three points.
The 25-year-old was at fault for Wolves’ equaliser though, being pushed far too easily off the ball by Jorgen Strand Larsen. Removing such errors from his game will be key for Konate to become a world-class talent, though Owen is backing the France defender to do exactly that.
“Konate is already established, well-established as a top centre-half. A brilliant centre-half. He has got everything and I think he could be [world-class] the future,” the former Liverpool striker told Premier League Productions.
Owen continued: “Virgil van Dijk is really at the peak of his powers at the moment, but Konate has still got a bit to learn. He’s still a bit younger, as well. I look forward to seeing him improve and maybe even get to Virgil’s standards one day, you never know.”
Discussing the goal scored by the centre-back at Wolves, Owen added: “He’s very dangerous in this situation. The size, the athleticism, the leap, the power in the header.
“It’s brilliant from [Diogo] Jota; the turn of pace there, bursts past his man and what about that for a ball? It’s so inviting but you have got to be, for all those attributes, able to attack the ball and head it down as well. It was a really good goal and came just at the right time for Liverpool.”
