Virgil van Dijk sends clear Ibrahima Konate message and lifts lid on Hugo Ekitike's Liverpool form

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Only he will know just how much of an impact it has had on him in a campaign littered with mistakes and inconsistencies.Fortunately for the Frenchman, his latest faux pas was at least followed by two much-improved performances against Inter Milan and Brighton, with the 26-year-old emerging as arguably Liverpool’s most impressive defender in both games.And captain Virgil van Dijk was full of praise for his defensive partner following the latest victory as he credited Konate for his response after last week’s mistake at Leeds.“It's obviously the basis to success, to not concede chances, let alone goals,” the skipper told reporters. Ibou as an example has been, in the last two games, especially outstanding.“He's working on things like we all do, he helps me, I help him, and that's how it should be.“We are not perfect, he wants the best for the club, and I'm pretty sure that will be absolutely fine.”Van Dijk continued: “I've been very fortunate at Anfield to win a lot of games and keep clean sheets and feel like there's no way a team can beat us here, and that feeling was incredible.“Obviously the last couple of weeks we have been struggling and going through ups and downs and that's obviously difficult to take.“But it's all about the hard work and confidence and the way the fans are with each other that matters.“I think you see today but also the midweek game how much commitment there is and that's obviously a good thing for me to see as a captain.”While Konate has struggled at times this season, compatriot Hugo Ekitike has been a shining light for Liverpool.The France international now has 10 goals for the campaign, after scoring back-to-back Premier League braces against Leeds and Brighton.With such figures coming in a season when the Reds have not been at their best, Ekitike has certainly made a positive impact on Van Dijk.“I think he's doing well obviously,” the Dutchman said.

Obviously he's important with his goals and his hard work that he put in.“He wants more from himself and we all want a lot from him and the rest of the team.“It's not been an easy season but for him to come in and produce these numbers, that's something we need, we want and he wants.“He just has to stay calm and keep working and help himself but also the rest of the team and Alex (Isak) as well to be in their best shape. But the Reds head coach retains the backing of Van Dijk and his dressing room, despite the storm created by Salah’s comments last weekend.“I think he's handled the situation very well,” he said.

“Calm, in his own way.“It's a very tricky situation, there's a lot of noise and pressure from the outside world and rightly so because we have not been close to the standard that we showed last season.“But we are all human beings and everyone reacts in a certain way and can deal with situations in a certain way.“But I think personally looking at it and the conversations we both had on a daily basis, I think he handled it very well. We just have to keep going.“He's obviously at a club that is a very together club and that's how it's been before our time at the club and it's something we have to keep going.“We go through the good times together as a team, as a club, as a fanbase, and sometimes when difficult moments arise we also have to stick together.“I think this moment of time is a very good moment to see how everyone responds to that.