Ibrahima Konate admits he had a different opinion on Virgil van Dijk before joining Liverpool

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Liverpool’s march towards a potential Premier League title this season has been built on the back of a rock-solid defence.

With 21 goals conceded in 23 games, the Reds have the best back line in the division.

As always, Virgil van Dijk has been the heartbeat of that success for Liverpool. The captain has been just as good as ever.

Despite Van Dijk’s contract entering its last few months at Anfield, the big No.4 is showing now signs of slowing down.

Alongside Virgil, though, Ibrahima Konate has re-emerged as one of the best centre-backs in Europe.

Konate has established a superb partnership with Van Dijk. But, according to the Frenchman, he was not always so sure of his Dutch colleague’s quality.

Ibrahima Konate reveals Virgil van Dijk first impression

It is a strange quirk that throughout his seven years at Liverpool, Van Dijk has rarely had a solid partner for more than one season.

All of Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Konate and even Jarell Quansah have played significant chunks as Van Dijk’s deputy in the defence.

Incredibly, Virgil has made them all look like world-beaters. That’s how good he is. Konate does not need telling that, of course, and speaking to liverpoolfc.com, the 25-year-old has hailed his captain.

“What a defender!” raves Konate. “I think if we talk about him and what he has done, it’s unbelievable.”

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“I have a very good relationship with Virgil on the pitch and outside of the pitch. And when I came here as a 21-year-old he gave me a lot of advice and helped me with my adaptation here.

“When I was in Leipzig I watched some games of Liverpool and I didn’t realise how good he was,” adds the No.5.

“Then when I came here, sometimes I’d think, ‘No! How is this possible?’ And now I think because he’s too good, some strikers see Virgil and are just thinking: ‘I have no chance against him.’”

Konate hoping to re-establish Van Dijk partnership

The only thing that has really stopped Konate from being Van Dijk’s permanent partner over the past two years or so has been injuries.

The France international has had a chequered fitness history since 2022 and that continued with a recent absence from being in the team.

According to Konate, though, he is now ready to truly make his duo with Van Dijk ‘the best partnership in the world.’

“On the pitch I need him and I think it’s the same way for him, hopefully!” he says. “I know how good he can be for me and we just work together and try to be the best partnership in the world.

“For me personally, before I had my injury [in late November] I think we were on the top level and I think a lot of people felt that as well, but we know that we just have to keep going in this way.”