Ibrahima Konate Sets Premier League Record for Liverpool in Dominant Display Against Sheffield United
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate made a remarkable return to the starting lineup after a long-term ACL injury for Joel Matip. Konate’s performance against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane set a new Premier League record for a Liverpool player.
Konate’s Dominant Display
According to FotMob, Konate won 19 out of his 24 contested duels in the match, with a perfect record of 14 out of 14 aerial duels won. This achievement surpasses any other Liverpool player in the Premier League. The closest competitors in terms of winning headers were Wataru Endo, Jack Robinson, and Vini Souza, who won five each. Dominik Szoboszlai won the second-highest number of overall duels with 11.
Klopp’s Cheeky Request
Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool’s manager, jokingly mentioned in his post-match press conference that he was tempted to ask Sheffield United’s manager, Chris Wilder, to shoot the ball on the other side of the pitch so that Virgil van Dijk could participate in the challenges. Klopp praised Konate’s fantastic game but also acknowledged that the intensity of the match caused a few shaky moments for the defender.
Aerial Battle and Defensive Dominance
The aerial battle played a crucial role in Liverpool’s victory. Alongside Konate’s 100% success rate in aerial duels, Van Dijk (80%), Joe Gomez (80%), Trent Alexander-Arnold (100%), and Wataru Endo (71%) all showcased their dominance in the air. Sheffield United attempted 60 long balls during the game, but only 10 found their intended target, resulting in a success rate of 16.7%. Even goalkeeper Wes Foderigham struggled, successfully completing only three out of 24 long ball attempts (12.5%).
Despite some tense moments, Konate’s exceptional performance and Liverpool’s defensive prowess ultimately secured a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United.