Klopp has an ace up his sleeve: Konaté is an overlooked danger

The only signing that Liverpool made last summer was Ibrahima Konaté. A corpulent French center back who had trouble playing regularly for RB Leipzig. Those from Anfield were surprised by paying 40 million euros for his services to the German club, but Jurgen Klopp trusted the Sochaux youth squad. That is why he has been pampering him until he was ready to give the chest when things have gotten serious. And come on, he has done it, being a starter in the transcendental Champions League and FA Cup matches. In the Premier for now he rests.

Konaté has made just 22 appearances this season but has started both of the momentous quarter-finals against Benfica in which he was instrumental with two headers that set the game on track for Liverpool. The center-back has become a threat in set pieces for the ‘red’ team. Very powerful from high, in which he asserts his 1.94 height, he fits perfectly with Van Dijk in the center of the defense. For Klopp it is one more plus to add to his offensive torrent. In short competitions, corners and strategy plays have become a weapon that makes the difference between champions and contenders. And Konaté has added one more threat to the English if that were not enough with Salah, Mané, Jota, Luis Díaz, Thiago…

The Frenchman was once again a key player against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals where he scored his third consecutive goal. With the good assistants that the red team has, he is almost unstoppable in the rival area. Villarreal will have to be very careful with Konaté in the Champions League semifinals.