Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté has revealed that he was on the verge of making an early return from compassionate leave after the death of his father when he spotted Liverpool's defensive crisis. The French centre-back had initially returned to the club after three matches due to family reasons, but decided to come back into action despite planning to be out until the end of the week.
On Wednesday, Konaté trained twice with the team before scoring a crucial goal in their 4-1 comeback win against Newcastle United. His decision to rush back was motivated by his desire to help the team overcome their defensive struggles, which had been mounting since Liverpool's last loss.
Konaté's teammate Hugo Ekitiké also came under praise for his outstanding performance, with slot hailing him as 'special' and 'fast'. The German midfielder scored two goals in the match, showcasing his exceptional skill on the pitch. Slot praised Ekitiké's improvement in terms of work rate off the ball.
The win leaves Liverpool 10 points clear of Newcastle United in the fight for Champions League places. However, manager Eddie Howe has vowed to focus on defensive improvements, after conceding four goals against the team that tried to sign him last summer.
On Wednesday, Konaté trained twice with the team before scoring a crucial goal in their 4-1 comeback win against Newcastle United. His decision to rush back was motivated by his desire to help the team overcome their defensive struggles, which had been mounting since Liverpool's last loss.
Konaté's teammate Hugo Ekitiké also came under praise for his outstanding performance, with slot hailing him as 'special' and 'fast'. The German midfielder scored two goals in the match, showcasing his exceptional skill on the pitch. Slot praised Ekitiké's improvement in terms of work rate off the ball.
The win leaves Liverpool 10 points clear of Newcastle United in the fight for Champions League places. However, manager Eddie Howe has vowed to focus on defensive improvements, after conceding four goals against the team that tried to sign him last summer.
Konaté's story is like something out of a movie, from being on compassionate leave because of his dad's passing to then wanting to jump back into action to save his team's season 
it shows how much he cares about those around him and not just himself. and can you believe Ekitiké just got praised by slot for having 'special' skills? 
that dude is on fire right now 
and yeah, the win against Newcastle was huge, but I think Liverpool should focus on their defense because 4 goals conceded in a single match is no joke 
Konaté was meant to be back out till week's end but he rushed back to help the lads and scored a crucial goal! 
think it was good of him tho, but also kinda worried that he might be pushing himself too hard 
he looked like a whole different player compared to when I first saw him play
. And Ekitiké's just pure magic, slot was right with his praise 
. I mean we all know how tough the Premier League is but Liverpool's defense has been lookin shaky lately... Konaté's return gives me hope they can turn it around 
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. I mean, he was literally meant to take it easy because of his dad's passing but then he spots the team struggling and he just goes back in there like a boss 
. The way Slot raved about him, it's clear he's been working hard to improve his game 
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. And what about the defensive crisis that supposedly prompted him to rush back? Was it really that critical? Seems like Liverpool is just trying to spin this as a heroic return by Konaté rather than acknowledging some deeper issues with their defense 
. Also, Hugo Ekitiké being 'special' and 'fast'? Has the media been too hasty in praising him already? Need some actual stats or footage to back up those claims 
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. But at the same time, it's not like Liverpool's defense was exactly rock-solid before he came back 
️. And honestly, I think Konaté made the right call - they needed a boost and he delivered 
! Ekitiké's performance was insane too! He's been improving so much and it's awesome to see him shining in big games 
!
. And shoutout to Eddie Howe for focusing on defensive improvements - we know he can turn this around 
!
. Ekitiké's goals were cool and all, but slot praising him for his work rate off the ball is kinda weird... shouldn't he just focus on scoring more goals then? 
It's great to see Ibrahima Konaté rushing back from compassionate leave to help his team overcome their defensive struggles. His decision shows that he truly cares about the club and wants to contribute to its success! 
. and let me tell you, that defensive crisis they've been having? solved 
️! eddie howe needs to focus on those defensive improvements tho 
. can't wait to see liverpool take on the rest of the league 
, 4 goals conceded in one match is too many 
. i'm loving this comeback win tho, lfc are looking unstoppable 
. His speed on the pitch is insane, and that second goal of his was a total screamer 
. And let's not forget that win against Newcastle – Liverpool's on fire 
! He could've easily played it safe and been out for another week or so but he saw his team in trouble and stepped up. The goal he scored was massive, it's not every day you see someone come off the bench and change the game like that!
. The slot is right, he's definitely special. 
. Ekitiké's been on fire lately too, love the way he's playing! Fastest midfielder I've seen in ages 
. Gotta give Howe credit though, he knows what to say but needs to back it up with some decent recruitment. 10 points clear is huge, but we can't get complacent now. Still a few games left to make sure Liverpool stays on top 
. It just goes to show that there are some talented players on that team who can step up when it matters most. And I love how Slot praised Ekitiké's improvement in terms of work rate off the ball – it's not just about individual skill, but also about how players support each other on the pitch 
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