Ibrahima Konaté was smiling and rightly so: last-gasp wins in the Merseyside derby are something to be savoured and this Liverpool win was both timely and critical.
The France international’s upbeat demeanour, though, was not solely down to Virgil van Dijk’s towering header. After months of speculation – talk of him signing new terms began in September 2024 – Konaté was thrilled to confirm he was poised to commit his future to Liverpool.
“To be fair, there are many things people have said,” Konaté explained. “But, for a long time, we have spoken with the club and we are close to an agreement. I think everyone wished for that for as long as possible but we are in a good way.
“There is a big chance I’m here next season. This is what I always wanted. I’m waiting to sort the contract but when everything is sorted you will have to ask Richard [Hughes, director of football] what I said to him in September, November. He’s going to say something to make everyone quiet.”
It is a sensible outcome. Not even Konaté’s No 1 fan would try to argue this has been the best year of his Liverpool career. There were moments against Everton when it looked like he might slip up. He was turned far too easily by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, for instance, for Beto’s equaliser.
But before a summer in which there will more change, it would have been nonsensical to let him leave for free. Replacing him would cost significantly more – and be far from straightforward in terms of recruitment – than furnishing him with extended, improved terms.
Konaté turns 27 at the end of May and, in theory, his best years should still be in the distance. He has it within him to keep improving and it should not be underplayed what a key role he will have in helping his young compatriot Jérémy Jacquet, whom Liverpool signed in January, to acclimatise.
“I think I’m a leader already for this team, for the younger players, for everyone to be fair,” Konaté argued. “We know this is part of the football life. The legends are going to leave one day and, after, it’s going to be our turn to take the lead.”
Jacquet, who chose Liverpool ahead of Chelsea when opting to leave Rennes in a £60m deal, is regarded as the future, but it is not realistic to think he and Giovanni Leoni, the young Italian who ruptured his cruciate ligament on his debut last September, will be forming a partnership soon.
Leoni, a £27m recruit from Parma, looked polished in that League Cup tie with Southampton but there is no date on when he will resume his Liverpool career. The 19-year-old is doing rehabilitation work outside on the grass but he will not train with the team again this season.
So, barring an unforeseen set of circumstances, Arne Slot’s central defensive pairing in the opening match of the new Premier League campaign in August will be Konaté and Van Dijk. Is that really such a bad thing?
There was a time, when negotiations were dragging, that his name was persistently linked with Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain, both of whom saw the merit of having him as a player. Had he left Liverpool, he would not have been short of options.
He has suffered in recent months, however, on many levels. During the period in which results collapsed, Konaté was culpable during several games and the on-pitch nadir arrived at Elland Road in December when he conceded a penalty in a madcap 3-3 draw.
“Unfortunately for him, he does a lot of things well, but he has been a bit too much at the crime scene, that is something I’ve heard people saying in England,” Slot said. “So that means he’s been involved in goals we’ve conceded. But, if you are a centre-back, that happens in football.”
It does and it would be absurd to suggest Konaté will not make mistakes again. But it will surprise you to learn he has only made one error that has led directly to an opposition goal in the Premier League and Gianluigi Donnarumma (eight) has made more errors that have led to opponents’ shots than him (six).
Off the pitch, things have been harder still, yet he has kept fronting up. Even through ordeals such as the sudden loss of his father, Hamady, in January and being subjected to racist abuse in March, he has endeavoured to remain positive. Characters like him are crucial in a dressing room.
“It was a tough year because many things happened and I think if everyone knew exactly what happened to me, they could understand many things, which kind of sacrifices I’ve done for this club,” Konaté said.
“I think it is great and one day I will take the time to think about it. Right now, I am focused on the end of the season and making sure we are qualified for the Champions League next season and after we take the time to talk about this season because it’s going to be a big part of my story.
“It’s sad in one part, but it’s very nice for my story when I explain that to my future kids and those people who support this club as well.”