Ibrahima Konate gets Champions League winner's backing after Liverpool stick - 'When people criticise you'
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.
Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballLiverpool FCIbrahima Konate's form has dipped this season but one Liverpool Champions League winner says he is not concerned long termDjibril Cisse admits Ibrahima Konate's form has dipped below the levels expected of him at Liverpool so far this season. But the 2005 Champions League winner says he has no long-term concerns over his French compatriot as he labelled Konate a "top-class defender".Konate has come in for criticism for some of his performances of late as Arne Slot's champions have lost three successive games for the first time in the head coach's tenure.The France international started all three games against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea before the international break and was withdrawn in the 2-1 loss at Stamford Bridge on Saturday amid fears of a muscle injury.READ MORE: Florian Wirtz has already told Liverpool where to play him as he makes 'sad' claim about transferDespite the patchy form, Cisse, who spent three years with the Reds before leaving in 2007, thinks Konate will eventually show his class, insisting he is not worried for the remainder of the campaign.“When people criticise you, it means that you can usually do better than you’re currently doing," Cisse told Poker Strategy."Which is what we’re seeing with Ibrahima Konate right now."I think there’s a case to be made that at the moment he isn’t performing as well as he should be, but I’m not really worried because he’s a top-class defender.“I think he will return to his top level eventually this season.“This sometimes happens with players – you go through bad periods, which is exactly what’s happening to him and why he’s getting criticised."However, he’s still a top player and an important defender for Liverpool.”Konate limped off shortly after half-time in Liverpool's dramatic 2-1 defeat at Chelsea with Reds head coach Slot later fearing the player had suffered a quad problem.The centre-back nevertheless joined up with the France squad on Monday ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan on Friday and Iceland on Monday, where his injury was assessed.And while France national team boss Didier Deschamps had remained tight-lipped over Konate's condition, his international team-mate and Arsenal defender William Saliba has shed light on the Liverpool player's fitness."He hasn't been training because he has some minor injuries," said Saliba on Wednesday.
"I hope he'll be back soon but I don't know any more."Konate, who was pictured taking some part in France's training session that day, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with interest from Real Madrid.