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Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool during a pre-season training session at Japan Football Association Yume on July 28 2025 in Tokyo(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Ibrahima Konate is braced for a "more difficult" season as Liverpool look to retain their Premier League crown.

The Reds are in Japan for the final leg of their pre-season Asia tour where they will face Yokohoma F Marinos on Wednesday.

Liverpool open the Premier League campaign at home to Bournemouth on Friday, August 15 aiming to successfully defend a trophy for the first time since 1984.

And Konate admits the task facing Arne Slot's new-look squad this campaign outweighs the effort required to clinch a record-equalling 20th championship last time out.

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“Last season we came back with a new manager and he had a very good idea and he said before the season started what we have to do to win the Premier League," said the France international.

“We just followed what he said and at the end we had a good result for the club.

"I think this season will be more difficult, because for sure we are happy and we don’t have to forget last season, but we have to take the good parts of last season as well as the bad parts where we did not really great and work on that.

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“We were champions last season and it’s finished now, we have to go again and try to do something even better than last season.

That’s why the pre-season is very important.

“I know it’s very difficult for everyone but we need these tough sessions to be ready for the season.”

Konate's future has come under growing scrutiny having entered the final 12 months of his contract with talks having stalled over a new deal.

European Super League advocates Real Madrid are reportedly considering signing the player on a free next summer.

With Jarell Quansah having departed to Bayer Leverkusen earlier this month, the Reds are in the market for a new centre-back regardless with Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi a player of interest.

Liverpool took their summer spending to over £250million with the initial £69m signing of French striker Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt last week.

But, speaking to liverpoolfc.com, Konate is keen to ease the expectancy on the batch of new arrivals.

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“We brought in some great players to this team but I don’t want to put some pressure on them," he said.

“We just have to give them the time to adapt because they don’t know the Premier League now.