Q&AIbrahima Konate interview: 'We knew this week was very important for us'

The Reds ended a busy week by beating Aston Villa 2-0 on Saturday night, to follow up on the Anfield successes over Brighton & Hove Albion and Bayer Leverkusen.

The goals in both halves from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah against Villa mean Arne Slot's side sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League entering the latest pause in the schedule.

Liverpoolfc.com spoke to Konate for his reaction to another satisfying win – read on for the full interview…

Ibou, congratulations, a really important three points. What a performance...

Yeah, really important. We knew this week was very important for us, just before the international break. We got three points again and we are very happy. Now everyone goes with their national teams but we just wish everyone will come back fit. Thank you to the fans again. Like I said after the Champions League game, we need them. They were there, and thank you so much again.

A great goal from Darwin and a brilliant pass from your centre-back partner Virgil van Dijk to get it under way...

I didn't expect he can run until there and give the pass to Mo! Honestly, it was a very good goal from Virg, Mo and Darwin at the end. I'm very happy for him [Nunez] and he has to keep going, keep pushing and he will score more goals, I'm sure.

We've seen Liverpool at their best attacking-wise, are there games like this one where you know about the set-piece threat Aston Villa pose and sometimes you just have to enjoy defending?

Yeah, of course, this is my job. And when I defend, of course I enjoy it, when I win the challenge – I think this is the best thing for a defender. We have to say thank you as well to Caoimhin [Kelleher] because he made two great saves from set-pieces from Aston Villa. A great team performance today.

Caoimhin is incredible, isn't he?

He's worked so hard since I'm here in Liverpool. He's here before me but since I'm here he's worked so hard and so well. And so when he has the opportunity to play, he just showed the world how good he is. Yes, I'm very happy for him.

Is this the most comfortable, most happy you've been individually as a player at Liverpool?

I don't know! I'm very happy. I just worked so hard every day to be the best in my position in the world and I just have to keep going, keep pushing, and this will come one day, for sure.

What kind of impact has Arne Slot made on this place?

You just have to see our results – we start the season very well. But I don't want to put too much pressure on him. I know he's a perfectionist but now it's just the start of the season, we just have to work and to be better day after day. At the end of the season, we will see the impact that he brings to us.