Liverpool have come on leaps and bounds during their first three months under Arne Slot.
Reds supporters had been unsure of what to expect when Slot took over from Jurgen Klopp over the summer.
However, any anxieties have quickly been put to bed, with Liverpool catapulting themselves to the top of the Premier League table.
It all started back in August, with a trip to newly promoted Ipswich Town.
After a promising pre-season, it had already become clear which members of the Liverpool squad Slot had taken an early fancy to. The starting XI at Ipswich would likely confirm those notions.
One player who was left out of the team that sunny August lunchtime was Ibrahima Konate. And with Konate roaring back to become a key player for Slot since, the Liverpool head coach has now explained exactly why he chose to start Jarell Quansah instead.
Arne Slot explains Ibrahima Konate decision
With Liverpool flattering to deceive during the opening half of the season, Konate did come on for the second period at Portman Road.
From there, the Frenchman has barely looked back. Konate has started all 14 of Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League games since.
Nevertheless, Slot clearly still stands by his decision.
Asked about Konate’s good form in his pre-Southampton press conference on Friday, the Dutchman explained exactly why Ibou had been left out in favour of Quansah at Ipswich.
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“The first game he didn’t play and there was a reason for that, because if you look back at our pre-season games, they weren’t his best games,” Slot said.
“But to be fair to him, he came back like so many others quite late because of the tournament, we were already training for a few weeks and Jarell did really well.
“So, I thought it was, in my opinion, a logical decision to play Jarell. But at half-time I made the decision that we needed Ibou.”
Slot hails Konate buy-in
As well as explaining this decision, Slot also took time out to praise Konate’s application ever since his arrival at Anfield.
“He not only bought into getting fit and doing everything for this, but every time we had a meeting with him it was, I wouldn’t maybe do justice to all of the players, but he was the one who I could see wanted to learn, wanted to listen and wanted to improve and that’s what he did in my opinion,” said the 46-year-old.
The improvement in Konate has been clear for all to see. Three months into the season and he’s arguably in the best form of his Liverpool career.
It is of course a little unfortunate for Quansah, who has seen his chances in the first-team limited as a result.
However, when a player is catching fire like Konate at the moment, you just have to hold your hands up and admire it.
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