Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker was extremely impressed with centre-back partnership Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate yesterday after the Reds’ came away with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
With Spurs star Harry Kane lurking in the penalty area, it was imperative the central defenders were constantly alert to his movements, due to his dangerous ability to pounce on the ball at a moments notice.
Speaking with LFCTV following the game, the Brazil international thought the pair did very well to suppress the threat. He showered praise on the defensive duo, hailing their ability to defend crosses coming into the box.
“I know it’s a difficult situation [defending crosses] as the opponent has players who are running against our movements and it’s not easy,” Alisson said.
“I have to try to help but I have two big men in front of me, Virg and Ibou, they are amazing in that respect, but all the team did really well together to try and block crosses and not make crosses easy for them.”
Alisson praises Van Dijk and Konate
Having utilised a number of various centre-back partnerships since the start of the season, it is good to see Konate back in the starting XI next to his Dutch predecessor.
With the 23-year-old’s huge stature and brute strength, Liverpool are lucky to have an imposing defensive duo patrolling their back-line.
Neither Van Dijk nor Konate appear as if they’re going to lose an aerial duel, as they can both easily overpower their opponents with their physical prowess.
This gives Alisson that level of protection that is so necessary with crosses flying into the box, as he does not need to make any drastic movements in attempt to beat the ball away from goal.
Whilst phenomenal in the air, more uniquely, the Frenchman is also gifted with fantastic pace, which allows heroic last-ditch tackles to be made in the last line of defence.
Van Dijk, on the other hand, has excellent initial awareness, and his inch-perfect positioning does not often require one-on-one challenges to be made. Consequently, the pair’s characteristics certainly match-up well alongside one another, with no obvious flaw in either player’s game.
Although Joel Matip has looked very strong when playing for the Reds and despite Joe Gomez’s evident chemistry with Liverpool’s first-choice centre-back, Konate should really be Van Dijk’s partner at the back going forward.
At just 23-years-old, the former RB Leipzig man has the potential to enjoy an illustrious career at Anfield over the next decade, and there is no better player to learn from than his Dutch teammate.
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