LIVERPOOL — Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has praised the commitment and professionalism of defender Ibrahima Konaté, who marked an emotional return to action by scoring in the Reds’ 4–1 Premier League victory over Newcastle United following the recent death of his father.
Konaté, who had been on compassionate leave, scored Liverpool’s fourth goal at Anfield after rejoining the squad earlier in the week. Slot highlighted the defender’s resilience during an incredibly challenging period.
“He has gone through a very tough couple of weeks and is still dealing with a lot,” Slot said. “We spoke last week and he initially planned to return later, which would have ruled him out of this match. But when he noticed our defensive issues, he contacted me and said he wanted to come back and help the team against Newcastle.”
The French centre-back returned to training on Wednesday and completed two sessions before Saturday’s match. Slot was impressed not only by Konaté’s goal but also by his overall performance and the reaction from both fans and teammates.
“He played an excellent game, scored a goal, and the supporters showed their appreciation throughout, especially when he found the net. His teammates were equally supportive and celebrated him when he returned to the dressing room after the final whistle,” Slot added.
The Liverpool manager also noted the emotional moment after the match when Konaté joined teammate Florian Wirtz following their post-match interview, receiving loud applause from the squad.
“It meant a lot for him to score after such a difficult time,” Slot said. “This team always stands together in hard moments, and that’s exactly what they did for Ibou. I was told it was his first league goal at Anfield since joining the club, which made it even more special.”
Slot also reserved praise for Hugo Ekitike, who scored twice in the first half after Anthony Gordon had given Newcastle an early lead.
“From the very beginning, you can see how special and quick he is,” Slot said. “His second goal showed that perfectly — taking on his man on the outside is incredibly difficult. While his quality on the ball has always been there, his biggest improvement has been his work rate and effort without the ball.”
