Virgil van Dijk, a defender for Liverpool FC, was recovering from a severe knee injury last year, and things were drastically different for him.
Due to the setback, the Dutch defender was out for most of Liverpool’s attempt to retain their Premier League championship in 2020–21.
However, with Van Dijk returning and Ibrahima Konate, who joined from RB Leipzig, as a fresh face through the door, Jurgen Klopp’s team was poised to launch a push for all the major prizes in the previous season.
They came close to a historically rare quadruple but nonetheless successfully won the EFL and FA Cups.
While placing second in the league by just one point, losing the Champions League, and sharing the greatest defensive record with league champions Manchester City (26 goals conceded).
Konate was eased in at Anfield by Klopp.
But still made 29 appearances in all competitions during his debut campaign with the Reds.
Van Dijk has waxed lyrical about the ability and potential of the France international.
Speaking to the club’s official website during a pre-season training camp in Austria, Van Dijk said:
“[Konate is] a very, very good player.
“What I like the most about him is [his] will to learn every day.
“There are loads of things that can improve – and that’s good because he has time.
“He needs the experience. But, in my opinion, experience is a big thing for a centre-half to learn and to take with you.
“In his case, I’m very happy to see him develop. I’m very happy to see him shine on and off the pitch, and he’s a fantastic character.”
Konate will aim to represent France when it defends the World Cup in Qatar later this year, but another Reds defender may need more effort to compete.
Joe Gomez also missed a big chunk of the 2020-21 campaign with an injury on England duty.
And he has not been selected for a Three Lions squad since.
Despite only making 21 appearances (11 starts) last season, the 25-year-old recently signed a new deal with Liverpool. Many of those games were at right-back since Klopp preferred Konate or Joel Matip to play center-back.
But after playing regularly alongside Gomez during Liverpool’s Premier League title-winning season in 2019-20.
Van Dijk thinks he might be the finest defender for England when healthy and was happy to see him sign a new contract.
“We spoke about it before he signed the deal, and I’m very happy that he’s staying at the club, staying with me. Also, I’m happy for the club that he’s signed,” the former Celtic and Southampton man said.
“He is, in my opinion, [one of] if not the best English centre-back around. We’ve both been very unlucky with the injuries we had. But, his time will come again, and hopefully, he can show that this season.”
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