ReactionWhy Ibrahima Konate was 'very happy' after Liverpool 2-0 Brentford
Ibrahima Konate was delighted a clean sheet accompanied the three points Liverpool secured on Sunday after beating Brentford at Anfield.
The Reds have opened the 2024-25 Premier League season with back-to-back shutouts as they followed up their opening-day win at Ipswich Town with a 2-0 result against the Bees in L4.
Luis Diaz gave the hosts the lead after 13 minutes and then set up Mohamed Salah's clincher midway through the second half.
Offering his reaction to the victory, Konate told Liverpoolfc.com: "I'm very happy for today because we won 2-0 and we didn't concede – this is most important for the team. Now we have to be ready for the next big game, which is coming very quick.
"But I think we controlled this game because we worked so hard. People think this game was easy but it was not easy, it was hard because we ran a lot. We work hard together and this was very good for everyone.
"We are not very 100 per cent because it's a new manager, we start new things – but I think this will come very quick and I'm so excited to be 100 per cent with what the manager wants. We have to work every day for that."
Konate was inserted into the starting XI for the clash with Brentford in the only alteration made by head coach Arne Slot.
The defender backed up an impressive second-half performance at Ipswich with a dominant display alongside Virgil van Dijk.
"I'm happy and I have to show what I like to do because I think a lot of people forgot what I did last season and in the games before," the No.5 said.
"Now I have to show that I am ready this season to be the best and I hope to be one of the best defenders in the world this season."
Konate finished off by paying tribute to Liverpool's second goalscorer of the afternoon on Sunday.
Salah now has 128 goal contributions (93 goals, 35 assists) from his 128 Premier League appearances for the Reds at Anfield.
"This guy is crazy! I'm a very big fan of Mo," Konate concluded. "It's crazy, every season it's always the same story. Even when he goes to the Africa Cup [of Nations] he has a lot of goals. I don't understand how he does that really.
"He's a big inspiration for me because I saw it every day how he works and I want to be like him."
-
Register nowLFC Foundation's 'Kip on the Kop' returns for 2025. LFC Foundation is once again challenging supporters to swap their bed for a sleeping bag for just one night to raise vital awareness and funds for thousands of people sleeping rough across the UK.
-
Special offerLFC Retail launches exclusive in-store promotion . LFC Retail has launched a special in-store promotion, giving you the chance to grab official merchandise at unbeatable prices.
-
FeatureWhen Liverpool and Everton contested the Floodlit Challenge Cup. The elegant item of silverware pictured below is a throwback to an era when Merseyside derbies were a much rarer occurrence and playing under lights was a novelty.
-
LFC asks fans to work together to ensure safe arrival of team bus. Ahead of tonight’s Merseyside derby and as the team enters the final stages of the Premier League season, Liverpool FC would like to remind supporters that everyone’s safety is the number one priority on matchday.
-
Programme notesArne Slot: The only thing that matters is the here and now. Arne Slot believes Liverpool must not dwell on what has gone before, or look ahead to what is to come, with tonight's Merseyside derby taking full focus.
