Topic: The Indomitable Ibou

[clinical]

No team has a group of better centre backs than us.

[.adam]

He was excellent yesterday but one thing I've noticed is that he tends to follow a player if they drift from central to out wide. Think he still needs to learn to 'pass him on' to one of the fullbacks so he can drop in again.

A couple of times he followed Ronaldo wide and we ended up with a gap at centre-half because nobody filled in for him. A better team would spot that and exploit the space. Maybe something Fabinho would be more likely to do when he's back.

[.adam]

What I also noticed today was his heading control was exceptional.  This is something I've previously highlighted with VVD where he's able to direct headed balls towards our players even when he's being challenged by the opposition.

Noticed this too. It's a small, incremental improvement, isn't it? Our centre-halves can essentially start an attack by heading a clearance direct to one of our midfielders/attackers.

[gazzalfc]

More clean sheets at Old Trafford than Varane

[RainbowFlick]

Class and mature.

Saw from a few Instagram videos his tussle with Fernandes continued separately away from the camera for a while too. Loved how he came in and shoved him 

[RainbowFlick]

In the Atletico game we seemed content letting Joao Felix hang out high and wide behind Trent assuming that Matip would get over or one of the CM's.  Obviously it didn't work as well as hoped so maybe Konate was the tactical answer?  I guess we'll see as the games go along.

Felix isn't as rapid as Rashford but I think it's probably a fair assessment. Plus Matip has played a LOT of games recently (for him). Ibou must be training well too for Klopp to choose him over Gomez too.

[Ski]

anyone mentioned how in the melee after Ronaldo kicking Curtis, Fernandes the hard man goes and shoves VVD. Ibou rocks up and body checks Fernandes?

was just a little shove. wish he'd full on body-slammed him, the prick!

[TAA66]

Brilliant performance from Ibou, especially after not having a lot of minutes for this team.  Excellent tactical decision by Klopp to protect the right side with his pace, with Rashfords runs in behind something that has been an issue in the past. 

You can see why we waited for the right player last year, he’s going to be an absolute monster for the next 10 years.

[newterp]

Only one issue for me was letting Ronaldo cut back inside for the disallowed goal (which took a worldie finish to beat Alisson). He can probably recover against most players there - but will have to remember that against top level forwards.

Otherwise - beast.

The tag team match of VVD and Ibou vs. Penaldo and Penandes was hilarious. Each was a head shorter than either of our players.

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

Saiyan Ibou doesn't want to hurt this human

[sminp]

Felix isn't as rapid as Rashford but I think it's probably a fair assessment. Plus Matip has played a LOT of games recently (for him). Ibou must be training well too for Klopp to choose him over Gomez too.

Think his selection over Gomez was tactical as much as anything. I was thinking during the game it looked clear that he was in there to deal with Ronaldo’s aerial prowess in a manner which Gomez perhaps couldn’t.

[tubby]

My feeling is that this is the start of Konate slowly becoming Virgil's first choice partner in the centre.

[Fiasco]

I really like what I've seen from him so far. If you were going to create a centre back from scratch then he'd have every attribute you want: pace, power, height, good aerially, comfortable on the ball and raw enough to improve further. He's potentially very, very good.

[Carra-ton]

My feeling is that this is the start of Konate slowly becoming Virgil's first choice partner in the centre.

I think Konate is more complete since he is better in the air than Gomez, and he is nearly as quick if not quicker based on clocked speeds as compared to Gomez. With Matip being in sensational form, I think it is going to be nigh on impossible for Gomez going forward in CB, but I think he can definitely get games at RB since we need someone to lighten Trent's load.

[Red Cactii]

Think his selection over Gomez was tactical as much as anything. I was thinking during the game it looked clear that he was in there to deal with Ronaldo’s aerial prowess in a manner which Gomez perhaps couldn’t.

Sure dealt with him alright, this shot just about sums the game up

[lamonti]

A couple of minor mistakes in the game but generally very good. And I just can't help but like him and his attitude. Klopp seems a very good judge of character.

[12C]

My feeling is that this is the start of Konate slowly becoming Virgil's first choice partner in the centre.

And him and Joe for the future

[mattD]

I think Konate is more complete since he is better in the air than Gomez, and he is nearly as quick if not quicker based on clocked speeds as compared to Gomez. With Matip being in sensational form, I think it is going to be nigh on impossible for Gomez going forward in CB, but I think he can definitely get games at RB since we need someone to lighten Trent's load.

Quite a few posters here yesterday citing that Konate's start was due to his aerial prowess and he sure as hell proved that against a front line that in all honesty can do damage. There was the odd raw moment but that's to be expected from a young player bedding in, but hell, he has all the tools at his disposal.

Don't want to undo the fantastic form of Matip, but just wondering if the coaching staff see a higher performance ceiling with Konate in the centre back with Van Dijk considering they do share similar attributes?

[G a r y]

Didn't realise how big he was, man is an absolute unit.

[Medellin]

Compilation here..

https://twitter.com/i/status/1452556326207381508

[iamnant]

Would definitely start him against Preston and Brighton. See how he fairs of a good run of games. Was so impressive yesterday.

[USCouse]

He was excellent yesterday but one thing I've noticed is that he tends to follow a player if they drift from central to out wide. Think he still needs to learn to 'pass him on' to one of the fullbacks so he can drop in again.

A couple of times he followed Ronaldo wide and we ended up with a gap at centre-half because nobody filled in for him. A better team would spot that and exploit the space. Maybe something Fabinho would be more likely to do when he's back.

Noticed this as well - believe this happened when Bruno saw that space and chipped a pass to Rashford into that space in the box resulting in a tame shot on target? He is so physically imposing and very quick as well - such a great foundation to build off of.

[Wabaloolah]

anyone mentioned how in the melee after Ronaldo kicking Curtis, Fernandes the hard man goes and shoves VVD. Ibou rocks up and body checks Fernandes?

was just a little shove. wish he'd full on body-slammed him, the prick!

yep, Penandes shat himself, don't remember him having a kick after that, then again he didn't have many kicks before that

[CHOPPER]

Virg has found his Luca Brasi.

[iamnant]

I wonder if a peripheral thought in starting him yesterday was that it would allow Phillips to partner Gomez midweek and means that everyone is getting some proper pitch time.

Possibly - Matip has been played continuously so that we can gather momentum before the inevitability of him needing to be rested. He'll be heavily rotated from now on I imagine, but for me Konate looks more than good enough to be the first choice along side Joel.

[Sangria]

Possibly - Matip has been played continuously so that we can gather momentum before the inevitability of him needing to be rested. He'll be heavily rotated from now on I imagine, but for me Konate looks more than good enough to be the first choice along side Joel.

We might need Matip in midfield the way things are going.

[Kopenhagen]

7:45

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=endVj1YlceU&ab_channel=LiverpoolFC

Throwing around Fred like he's a fly.

[newterp]

7:45

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=endVj1YlceU&ab_channel=LiverpoolFC

Throwing around Fred like he's a fly.

everyone is loving that. Reminiscent of Gomez throwing around Sterling to a degree.

[Dave D]

He’s got the right attitude and can play too. Getting stuck into the mancs has already won most of us over.

Take a walk around him, he’s a colossus.

[El Lobo]

Was he jibbing off at someone at full time? Thought it looked like he was giving it the 'talky talky' signal to someone.

[AK1892]

Reminds me of that Hightower guy from Police Academy movies.      (+ when the time is right, i guess we all know the song for him)

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

Reminds me of that Hightower guy from Police Academy movies.      (+ when the time is right, i guess we all know the song for him)

His song must be based on Dragon Ball.

[farawayred]

Not a good game from Ibou today. His challenges were mostly good, but he ventured off position way too often.

I'm getting a bit worried about Atleti, I would have thought that Matip will play this game and Ibou vs Atleti because of his pace, but by his today's showing I see that I was far off the mark. Matip has more pace in his head.

[Coolie High]

Not a good game from Ibou today. His challenges were mostly good, but he ventured off position way too often.

I'm getting a bit worried about Atleti, I would have thought that Matip will play this game and Ibou vs Atleti because of his pace, but by his today's showing I see that I was far off the mark. Matip has more pace in his head.

Play Gomez.

[farawayred]

Play Gomez.

Gomez wasn't starting ahead of Ibou thus far, one could wonder why.

[Funky_Gibbons]

Play Gomez.

I mean Konaté wasn’t at fault for either goal and midweek Gomez could have been at fault for two.

Weird shouts on here tonight.

[Coolie High]

I mean Konaté wasn’t at fault for either goal and midweek Gomez could have been at fault for two.

Weird shouts on here tonight.

Gomez is just a better cb for me as of now, and of course much more suited to our team and his potential partners as hes been here longer. Konate just came a couple months ago, and his new to the league, nothing weird about it.

[jillcwhomever]

Not a good game from Ibou today. His challenges were mostly good, but he ventured off position way too often.

I'm getting a bit worried about Atleti, I would have thought that Matip will play this game and Ibou vs Atleti because of his pace, but by his today's showing I see that I was far off the mark. Matip has more pace in his head.

I hope Gomez would get the call in the Champions League, perhaps give Virgil a rest and play Matip with him.

[farawayred]

I hope Gomez would get the call in the Champions League, perhaps give Virgil a rest and play Matip with him.

It's not the quality of the CBs I question, but their speed.

[Funky_Gibbons]

Gomez is just a better cb for me as of now, and of course much more suited to our team and his potential partners as hes been here longer. Konate just came a couple months ago, and his new to the league, nothing weird about it.

Based on what?

Gomez has hardly played since coming back from another serious injury and when he has he’s also looked a little shaky.