Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 23.
Player analysis: Ibrahima Konate & Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
In and out of possession Konate and Van Dijk have become a formidable centre-back partnership who enhance Liverpool’s title prospects.
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Their varied passing range is a major asset to the way the team build attacks.
Quick, strong, and defensively stable, they are also a duo that provide great confidence to everybody else in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI.
When Konate and Van Dijk have started together they are unbeaten in 19 Premier League matches, stretching back to a 4-1 loss at Manchester City in April.
This will give Liverpool optimism ahead of a huge contest at Arsenal on Sunday.
Physically dominant
Van Dijk is yet to be dribbled past by an opposition player this season, and no other top-flight central-defender wins more aerial duels per 90 minutes than the imperious Dutchman either.
Reacting well to an off-colour campaign in 2022/2023, Liverpool’s talismanic defender is showing his elite credentials once again.
Konate & Van Dijk's defensive stats compared 2023/24*
| Player | Duels won/90 | Player | Aerial duels won/90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibrahima Konate | 7.64 | Virgil van Dijk | 4.56 |
| Willy Boly | 6.94 | Ethan Pinnock | 4.19 |
| Virgil van Dijk | 6.27 | Ibrahima Konate | 4.16 |
| Ethan Pinnock | 6.24 | Jamaal Lascelles | 4.04 |
| Ben Davies | 6.21 | Willy Boly | 3.96 |
*Premier League centre-backs, min 10 starts
Konate complements the 32-year-old extremely well.
Blessed with almost as much pace as Van Dijk - his top speed is 33.91km/h compared to Van Dijk's 34.23km/h - they can both squeeze up to congest space in unison knowing the other has enough athleticism to provide cover.
Some opposition strikers have previously made a beeline for Van Dijk’s centre-back partner in a bid to avoid physical duels or races with Liverpool's captain. Right now, that is a wasted exercise.
Konate has more than enough physical attributes to ensure he is not universally viewed as the weak link among Liverpool’s central defenders.
Last time out in a 4-1 win against Chelsea the 24-year-old was consistently assertive, regularly going into midfield to make challenges for the ball.
The way Konate dispossessed Enzo Fernandez in the image below, is a good example of how he unsettles opposition attackers.
He will not allow Gabriel Jesus time to settle for Arsenal, and on occasion will follow him into midfield.
Pinpoint accuracy
Konate and Van Dijk are also outstanding long-range passers, which is beneficial to a Liverpool side who often face defensive opponents that keep things compact down the spine.
With one accurate ball over distance they can instantly stretch those teams.
When it comes to making forward passes into midfielders or attack, Konate delivers the most on that front.
Van Dijk’s 27.4 forward passes per match ranks him 10th, but making 34.5 per 90 minutes, Konate is the second-best forward passer among Premier League central-defenders.
Best forward passing Premier League centre-backs 2023/2024
| Player | Forward passes/90 |
|---|---|
| Jan Paul van Hecke | 34.6 |
| Ibrahima Konate | 34.5 |
| Lewis Dunk | 34.3 |
We saw his quality at Anfield on Wednesday against Chelsea when he released Darwin Nunez in behind for a shot that was eventually tipped onto a post.
Arsenal, who were caught out by long diagonals for goals they conceded against Liverpool in both of this season’s previous meetings, must be wary of this ploy.
The Gunners cannot afford Konate time or space with the ball as he has the capability of dropping an inch perfect pass over the top.
What makes this such a well-balanced pairing is that Van Dijk is just as good at switching the point of attack with a raking pass over distance.
It was his brilliant 60-yard ball to Conor Bradley that helped to create Domink Szoboszlai’s headed goal against Chelsea.
The @VirgilvDijk pass 🤤@conorbradley03's cross 👌
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 1, 2024
Szobo's header 💥
Our third goal in #LIVCHE! pic.twitter.com/hIpNXL8to5
Tough test for Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s side may have registered 31 shots across their two matches against Liverpool, but they are yet to score from open play against them.
Konate and Van Dijk’s terrific form, aided by Alexis Mac Allister’s excellent recent displays, means they will need to be at their creative best to make an impression on Sunday.
Liverpool are not impregnable.
They do offer up chances to the opposition, but there is an air of serene confidence about their two centre-backs at the moment, which suggests they will be hard to break down.