Ibrahima Konate bettered Liverpool's title winning defence with his role model

As the dust finally settles on Liverpool’s 2021/22 campaign, it feels as though not enough has been made of their tremendous defensive record. They conceded just 26 times in their 38 league matches, which meant this season was their seventh best on a goal-per-game basis from the 107 which the club have spent in the top flight.

Although Liverpool’s first choice goalkeeper and defenders are among the best players in their positions in the world, there were certainly no guarantees that the Reds would perform as well at the back as they did this season. All three senior centre-backs were returning from long-term injury absences while Ibrahima Konate was set to enjoy his first taste of English football.

His campaign may not have been flawless, but the former RB Leipzig man did tremendously well overall. Even leaving aside his defensive efforts, Konate’s goals against Benfica and Manchester City ensured his debut campaign with the Reds will be remembered fondly.

The 23-year-old’s performances throughout the campaign have seen him called up by Didier Deschamps to the senior French team for the first time. Konate has since spoken about two players he considers role models, one of whom is obvious.

Sergio Ramos, the other, perhaps less so, but he named Virgil van Dijk as the best centre-back in the world. "It's only the beginning and I hope to learn a lot and progress,” he said, and there aren’t any defenders better placed to assist in this regard than van Dijk.

Jurgen Klopp smartly paired Konate with his best centre-back as often as he could this season. The Liverpool number five played almost two thirds (1,605) of his 2,490 minutes alongside the Dutch colossus. He then had 570 minutes with Joel Matip, 225 with Joe Gomez and a