Florian Wirtz is also gaining momentum at Liverpool FC thanks to a friendly partnership on the pitch. But it was Ibrahima Konaté who provided the biggest thrills against Newcastle.
The fact that Liverpool scored the 4-1 in injury time on Saturday evening was irrelevant in sporting terms, but emotionally it surpassed everything that had happened against Newcastle before. Ibrahima Konaté cried after scoring the final goal, and everyone knew why. The former Leipzig player had recently been in his native France and missed three games for the Reds because his father had passed away.
“The last two weeks have been very difficult for me and my family, but that’s part of life, we have no choice,” Konaté explained to TNT Sports after the final whistle. Even goalkeeper Alisson had sprinted over to hug his teammate, who hadn’t actually been scheduled to play in the match.
Coach Arne Slot had given him time off without any time pressure, “but when he saw the problems we were having defensively, he called me and said he was coming back for this game because he wanted to help.” Due to numerous absences, Slot had felt compelled to experiment wildly with his back four, but against Newcastle, they stabilized again, thanks in part to Konaté.
However, others were also responsible for Liverpool’s first Premier League win of the year, notably Hugo Ekitiké and Florian Wirtz. The former impressed with his brace shortly before half-time, even impressing visiting coach Eddie Howe (“He has a bit of everything, that’s his greatest strength”), who would have loved to sign him in the summer. The latter is in better form than anyone else in the league.
Wirtz confirms top form: “He has just shown the world his quality”
Since December 20, Wirtz has collected nine points (six goals, three assists) across all competitions – more than any other Premier League professional during that period. After waiting months for his first goal involvement, suddenly almost everything is working out.
“He has just shown the world his quality,” said Konaté, delighted with the former Leverkusen player, who set up the 1-1 against Newcastle with a strong dribble and then scored the 3-1 himself after a one-two with Mohamed Salah, and was now standing next to him in a joint interview. “He hasn’t reached his peak yet, but that will come very soon. We talked during preseason about how many goals and assists he wants to achieve – and if he manages that, my God, it’s going to be crazy.” However, Konaté did not want to reveal the figures when asked.
Wirtz on Ekitiké: “I didn’t know he was that good.”
Slot is also not surprised that Wirtz’s ratings are rising. Like Ekitiké, he is getting closer and closer to the ideal state of “playing at the top level and with the highest intensity every three days.” Why he likes to see both of them on the pitch at the same time is also becoming increasingly obvious: Wirtz and Ekitiké have already set up six goals for each other in all competitions, which, according to the BBC, is also unique among League clubs.
“It’s so much fun to play with him,” Wirtz himself said on Saturday evening about Ekitiké, whom he now also describes as a “good friend” in his private life. “When I first saw him in training, he surprised me because I didn’t know he was that good. He knows exactly how to move on the pitch.” In the battle for Champions League qualification, Liverpool’s new dream duo will be looking to get one over on another celebrity guest at Anfield next Sunday. That’s when Manchester City comes to town.
