There was a period before Christmas when the prospect of Ibrahima Konate leaving Liverpool on a free transfer at the end of the season would have been greeted with a collective shrug among the fanbase.
As his contract stand-off rumbled on, the France international’s form nosedived. His performances were erratic and the number of costly errors kept mounting.
The nadir came at Elland Road in early December when his rash decision-making helped Leeds United fight back to salvage a point. “He has been a bit too much on the crime scene,” was the standout quote from head coach Arne Slot that night.
The fact that Konate avoided the axe said more about the lack of suitable alternatives at centre-back than any great belief that he would return to the heights he reached in helping Liverpool clinch the Premier League title in 2025.
However, to his credit, the former RB Leipzig defender rallied. He was much improved around the turn of the year and has built on that platform since returning from compassionate leave in late January following the death of his father, Hamady.
Immense in the 4-1 home victory against Newcastle United when the tears flowed after scoring late on in front of the Kop, Konate was even better in Wednesday’s hard-fought 1-0 win at Sunderland.
Ibrahima Konate is back to his best (Kate McShane/Getty Images)
It was the perfect display of controlled aggression as he nullified the threat of combative Dutch striker Brian Brobbey. Konate won eight of his nine duels alongside captain Virgil van Dijk, whose second-half header from Mohamed Salah’s corner ensured Liverpool reignited their push for Champions League qualification following last weekend’s dramatic defeat to Manchester City.
“Impressed but not surprised,” Slot said, when asked about the change in Konate’s fortunes.
“He’s an example of our season. He’s been so unlucky. He’s played games where he’s been so good for 89 minutes and then one moment ruins our game and his game.
“It’s not always about him but a few times that has happened and then everyone is focused on his mistake.
“Ibou played a great game against Brobbey, who is always difficult.”
If Liverpool are going to salvage something significant from this season, Konate’s resurgence needs to continue. Slot has precious little backup after the club opted not to bolster their defensive ranks in the January window.
Giovanni Leoni’s season is over due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament and Joe Gomez has only just recovered from a hip problem. Gomez made his comeback off the bench at the Stadium of Light after the worrying sight of Wataru Endo being carried off on a stretcher midway through the second half.
Wataru Endo could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines (Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool’s right-back curse had struck yet again, with Slot admitting: “Yes, it is a serious one but how serious we don’t know yet. His ankle and foot has to be assessed tomorrow but it doesn’t look good. I assume he will be out for a long time.”
It was cruel on the 33-year-old Japan international who had performed admirably in the back line after being handed just his second top-flight start of Slot’s reign. With Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong injured, Gomez not fit enough to start and Dominik Szoboszlai serving a one-match ban, Endo was effectively their fifth choice right-back.
Slot must decide who to entrust with that role for Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. He has been reluctant to turn to Calvin Ramsay as he doesn’t believe the 22-year-old Scottish defender is ready. Szoboszlai will be available and Gomez could also start there, although the club’s longest-serving player will be needed at centre-back if either Van Dijk or Konate are given a breather.
How Liverpool could have done with getting a loan deal for Lutsharel Geertruida over the line before the winter transfer deadline. The versatile Dutchman, who came on against them on Wednesday night, saw his hopes of being reunited with his former Feyenoord boss dashed after Sunderland refused to cancel their own loan agreement from Leipzig because they couldn’t secure a replacement.
Although Slot’s headache on the right side of the back line continues, there are no such concerns on the opposite flank, with a growing sense of relief that they snubbed Tottenham Hotspur’s attempts to sign Andy Robertson in January. Milos Kerkez is deservedly the first-choice left-back but on a night when the Hungarian was rested, Robertson’s display reaffirmed the importance of keeping him around for the rest of the campaign. Selling Robertson and bringing Kostas Tsimikas back from his loan at Roma would have been a serious downgrade.
Andy Robertson put in an assured performance against Sunderland (Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images)
Defensively, Liverpool were rock solid as they inflicted Sunderland’s first home league defeat of the season. It was only the third time in 2025-26 that the defending champions have won away in the Premier League and kept a clean sheet in the process.
In doing so, they capitalised on Manchester United and Chelsea dropping points 24 hours earlier. The gap to fourth-placed United is down to just three points.
Van Dijk, who won nine of his 10 duels, became Liverpool’s highest-scoring defender of the Premier League era with his 23rd goal, moving him clear of Sami Hyypia. The margin of victory should have been greater but Slot’s side were wasteful in the final third.
Ultimately, they were indebted to the Van Dijk and Konate double act, who stood firm amid an aerial bombardment. Hearts were in mouths when Brobbey threatened to restore parity, but Konate’s last-ditch challenge was perfectly timed.
Having already agreed a deal with Rennes to sign 20-year-old centre-back Jeremy Jacquet for an initial fee of £55million ($75m) this summer, Liverpool are planning for the future. Whether Jacquet will replace Konate or compete with him for a place is unclear. The latter would certainly be preferable.
The Anfield hierarchy haven’t given up hope of Konate signing an extension. They point to how Van Dijk and Salah didn’t agree fresh terms until April last season when their contracts were running down.
The difference is that they were in their thirties and both had repeatedly made it clear that their preference was to remain at Anfield. Konate is only 26 and has remained tight-lipped regarding his own ambitions. However, if the Frenchman already has something else lined up for the summer, he’s done a good job of keeping it quiet.
Konate is a popular figure in the dressing room, a personality you want to keep around. Having put a torrid spell behind him, he has changed the narrative.
Keep playing like this and there will be no dismissive shrugs if he does wave goodbye in May. By redeeming himself following those blunders earlier in the season, he has provided a timely reminder that he still possesses all the qualities you want to see in an elite centre-back.