Liverpool insiders think Arne Slot is about to really help £35m player after ‘poor’ end to the season

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Liverpool players have been feeling the benefit of a different approach during pre-season this year.

The Reds had gotten very used to the methods of Jurgen Klopp and his coaching staff over the past nine years.

And although Klopp, Pep Lijnders, Peter Krawietz and the rest were hugely successful at Anfield, sometimes a change can just give everyone a little lift.

That certainly looks to have been the case since Arne Slot took charge this summer. The Dutchman and his backroom team are very hands-on when it comes to training.

Liverpool players have praised their approach while even rivals have been impressed by Slot.

Ibrahima Konate set for Arne Slot benefit

With Liverpool’s new head coach coming with such a stellar reputation for improving players, it’s an exciting time to be a Reds supporter.

Slot already has a really good Liverpool squad to work with, while they could even yet add even more quality to it.

There have been claims that Liverpool are set to accelerate in the transfer market to give the Dutch coach the best possible tools for the new season.

In the meantime, though, Slot is working with the group that he has and focusing on getting them in shape for the campaign.

READ MORE: Arne Slot welcomes Alexis Mac Allister back to Liverpool training

After tailing off towards the back end of the previous season, Liverpool will be hoping to hit the ground running. For them to do that, a number of players are going to have to learn quickly and improve.

One of those most in need of some better performances is Ibrahima Konate. The centre-back had a difficult end to the campaign. Jamie Carragher labelled Konate as ‘poor‘ and he lost his place to Jarell Quansah.

Quansah has been really good in pre-season, which could lead to him beginning the season as one of Liverpool’s starting centre-backs. But according to The Athletic, the Reds don’t think Konate is done yet.

It’s claimed that there’s a ‘confidence internally’ at the club that Slot can restore the Frenchman back to his best after the disappointment of last season.

Ibrahima Konate ready for first run-out

Given the way he ended last season, Konate could have done with being back at Liverpool nice and early this summer.

But not only did the 25-year-old only join up with the group last week, he also didn’t play a single minute with France at Euro 2024.

A good performance in Germany could have helped Konate to banish the ghosts of last season. But after being stuck on the bench throughout the tournament, he’s unlikely to have been able to do that.

Nevertheless, Ibou is back now and from the training clips looks as jovial as ever. And after missing Thursday’s game against Arsenal, Konate looks set to feature during Sunday’s clash with Man United.

It’s true that the £35m man is playing catch-up to the likes of Quansah right now. But on his day, Konate is one of the best centre-backs in Europe. Let’s hope Slot can get that out of him once again.