Carragher singles out ‘excellent’ Liverpool star following Inter win
Jamie Carragher has praised Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate following the English side’s victory over Serie A giants Inter Milan.
Liverpool travelled to face Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Wednesday.
The Italian side struck the crossbar before the break and while they did not have a shot on target, they caused Liverpool a lot of problems.
Even basket-cases have high floor in ring-fenced Big Six
Jurgen Klopp’s side defended valiantly as they remained in the game. They made the most of their own opportunities as they scored twice inside the final 15 minutes.
Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah both scored as the Reds ran out 2-0 winners in the first leg. The return game takes place at Anfield on March 8.
Konate performed brilliantly alongside Virgil van Dijk as the defensive duo helped Liverpool keep a clean sheet.
The centre-back has been in and out of Liverpool’s team this team as he has started seven games in the Premier League. Carragher took to Twitter post-match to praise Konate:
“Great result for Liverpool FC in the San Siro again and I thought Ibrahima Konate was excellent!”
Speaking ahead of the victory, Carragher believes Liverpool starlet Harvey Elliott is a “special player” and he is a “ready-made replacement” for Salah:
“It makes you think Liverpool have got a special player, not just a good player,” Carragher said.
“You think of how young he is. You think of the players we have had at that age that were really special. Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, Raheem Sterling. You’ve seen Trent come through at that age. Sometimes you see someone that’s just special.
“It’ll be really interesting to see how Jurgen Klopp fits him in and gets him enough games. Also whether that will have an impact on Liverpool’s business in the summer.
“You have someone really special here, maybe in terms of Mo Salah’s replacement, if that’s the position he plays in.
“Mo Salah is getting to 30 now and we’re all desperate for him to sign a contract, but whenever Mo Salah goes, maybe you’ve got your ready-made replacement. Maybe not the same type of player, but a guy that plays on the right and comes in on that left foot.
“Maybe he’ll be more creative or maybe he’ll get less goals, who knows, but he’s definitely a special player and, in the next 18 months, he’ll have to find a position for him in the team because players of that quality have to play.”
