‘He’s a machine’: Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool have an ‘incredible’ talent on their books

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Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has been singing the praises of another one of his team this week, this time in the form of his summer signing, Ibrahima Konate.

The Reds paid Konate’s £36m release-clause in the summer. It was a big signing and one which the club felt was needed, given the nightmare injuries they’d had in defence last term.

Konate, 22, has played just twice in the Premier League so far. But he came of age at Manchester United last week, as he helped shackle Cristiano Ronaldo in the Reds’ 5-0 demolition job.

And speaking ahead of this weekend’s clash with Brighton, Liverpool manager Klopp believes Liverpool have signed a quality player.

“Ibou is an incredible talent, obviously. He came over to England and when you see him, he’s built for the Premier League. Physical-wise, he’s a machine. Has the speed we need, likes challenges, has a really good football knowledge, anticipating situations early, all these of kind of things. So, it’s a package, a real good package,” Klopp told journalists at his press conference.

“He speaks really well English, which was a bit of a surprise for a French guy who was in Germany. But his English is really good, so that helped him with the group as well. So far, so good.”

TBR’s View: Konate looks the real deal for Liverpool

Talk about stepping up to the plate on the biggest occasion. But that’s exactly what Konate did when played for Liverpool against United last weekend.

He was everything you’d expect a dominating central defender to be.

Konate was strong, physical, calm in possession, and up for the fight when needed. He has all the qualities that Klopp was crying out for last season and then some.

Clearly, too, he’s made a big impression on Klopp. Some players take time to settle, especially when they’re not playing that much from the off. But Konate seems to have taken to things brilliantly. That, of course, is a bonus for Liverpool but a bit of a nightmare for the rest of the league.