Ibrahima Konate answered Jamie Carragher perfectly with under the radar showing for Liverpool at Man City

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Liverpool beat Manchester City on Sunday to take a big step towards becoming Premier League champions.

Arsenal presented the Reds with a chance to move 11 points clear at the top of the table, and Arne Slot’s team did not pass it up.

Liverpool showed fantastic adaptability at the Etihad Stadium to win a Premier League game on City turf for the first time since 2015.

There were plenty of excellent individual performances from the Reds. Mohamed Salah was the star of the show as he continued his ridiculously good form this season.

Dominik Szoboszlai was showered with praise, too, with the Hungarian matching Salah by claiming a goal and an assist at the Etihad.

While Virgil van Dijk has been highlighted for his performance as well, we actually think Ibrahima Konate deserves more of a mention than he seems to be getting.

Ibrahima Konate answers Jamie Carragher criticism

Konate has had a really good season for Liverpool. There was an injury picked up against Real Madrid in December which has held him back a little, but otherwise he’s been top.

Fitness aside, though, there was a bit of a wobble for Konate during last weekend’s win over Wolves.

Jamie Carragher slammed Konate for almost getting himself sent off against the relegation candidates, and Slot eventually subbed the Frenchman off at half-time.

“It’s a daft challenge, absolutely ridiculous,” Carragher said at the time. “He does have those moments Konate.”

READ MORE: Frank Leboeuf claims Arne Slot is creating a ‘new era’ of football following Liverpool’s win against Man City

“He’s done a couple of stupid things in the game,” continued the former Liverpool defender. “Pulling someone back by the opposition corner flag, which he didn’t need to do.”

Konate was decent against Aston Villa in midweek, but his dominating performance at the Etihad against the champions showed why the odd silly moment can be absolutely forgiven.

Konate stands firm at the Etihad

Salah, Szoboszlai and Van Dijk may have taken the spotlight, but we think Konate was right up there with Liverpool’s best players on Sunday.

The £35m signing made one block, five clearances and made on interception during the game.

Every time Jeremy Doku or Omar Marmoush got past Trent Alexander-Arnold, Konate seemed to be there to step in.

His partnership with Van Dijk looked completely impenetrable, and while the Dutchman took the lead in that, Konate more than played his part.

If Liverpool do go on to win the Premier League title, then it has been built on the back of a superb defence. He may not always be the first to receive praise for that, but Konate is very much front and centre of that effort. Sunday’s colossal display proved it.