Ibrahima Konate has impressed James Milner with a brilliant pair of goals at the AXA Training Centre.
The goals were filmed during the latest Inside Training edition from LFCTV GO. In the video, Konate can be seen putting two impressive finishes past young goalie Harvey Davies.
The first one is a real net-buster. After latching onto an outside of the boot flick from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Konate shows an impressive change of pace to skip past Curtis Jones’ challenge.
As Fabinho approaches to shut the 22-year-old down, Konate lashes the ball into the top corner.
It is a super strike which bends off the defender’s right boot and is still travelling as it hits the net. Pick that one out.
If that was good, the next goal is even better.
Striding forward with the ball, Konate is faced with the brick wall that is Fabinho. But the Frenchman isn’t concerned by the best defensive midfielder in the world.
Instead, he sells the Brazilian with a delightfully impudent pirouette, then curls it into the bottom corner as Fabinho tries to get back to him.
He must have been watching Joel Matip.
Milner was certainly impressed. The 36-year-old shared a few words and a fist bump with his younger teammate following the goal.
A side we’re yet to see
Shooting ability isn’t something we’ve seen from Konate in a Liverpool shirt so far. He is actually yet to have a shot on target for The Reds.
He did have a good opportunity in Liverpool’s 4-1 FA Cup win over Shrewsbury in January. The ball fell kindly to him in the box in the second half.
But Konate’s tame shot barely reached the six-yard box. No matter, it was gobbled up by Roberto Firmino who gladly accepted the invitation to provide a back-heeled finish.
If this video is anything to go by, he’ll soon be on the scoresheet for Liverpool.
Feeling at home
The two goals are a further sign that Konate is growing in confidence at Liverpool.
For a young defender to twice take on a player of Fabinho’s stature is very impressive. To beat him both times will do wonders for his confidence.
This is just one example of how training day-in-day-out with world class players can help Liverpool’s younger crop develop.
Yes, you can learn a bundle of things from them. But if you’re able to demonstrate your own ability against them, that is going to give you the belief that you can go and do it on a matchday.
Perhaps it won’t be too long until we see Ibou demonstrating his skills higher up the pitch during games. Premier League beware!
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