‘Very good player’: Ibrahima Konate sticks up for 23-year-old Liverpool teammate straight after defeat to Arsenal yesterday

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool tasted defeat for the second time in the league this season yesterday against top-of-the-table Arsenal.

However, speaking to Liverpool’s official website, defender Ibramina Konate saw some positives.

One of those was Darwin Nunez, and Konate has backed the 23-year-old to continue improving this season.

Nunez scored his first Liverpool goal since the opening day of the season against Fulham.

Luis Diaz capitalised on Gabriel Magalhaes failing to clear a long ball from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

He pounced on the loose ball before squaring to Nunez in the box who poked the ball past Aaron Ramsdale.

Ultimately, Nunez couldn’t prevent Liverpool falling to a defeat as the Reds drifted further away from the top of the table.

However, Nunez’s teammate Konate has backed the Uruguayan to keep improving as he adapts to the Premier League.

Konate backs Nunez to continue improving

After the game, Konate said: “I think he (Nunez) needed this goal.

“He is a very good player and I think all of the people talk about him, because Liverpool spend a lot of money for him, but he needs to be confident and I hope he will grow and be better game after game.”

There’s been a spotlight on Nunez since his club-record £85m move from Benfica in the summer.

The 23-year-old didn’t help himself after receiving a three-match ban after being sent off against Crystal Palace in his second appearance.

Graeme Souness has previous said that Nunez has ‘not been ready’ to play a big role for Liverpool immediately.

However, Jurgen Klopp has been very complimentary about what he’s seen from Nunez in training.

The Uruguayan needs to translate that training ground form into Premier League goals soon.

However, with teammates like Konate backing Nunez to keep improving, it won’t be long before he’s added to his goal tally again.