Liverpool have ANOTHER Ballon d’Or contender READY to join Mo Salah and Ryan Gravenberch

Things are going well for Arne Slot and Liverpool.

Five points clear at the top of the Premier League with Manchester City seemingly embroiled in a crisis.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are going stronger than ever. Slot's side just dismantled Xabi Alonso's team midweek and they proceeded by beating Aston Villa rather comfortably on Saturday night.

At this stage, there is an argument to be made some of the players in this team are making statements to win the Ballon d'Or next year.

That's certainly the case for Mohamed Salah and if Rodri was able to win it this year than Ryan Gravenberch has to be a contender based on his performances this season.

But it's not just Salah and Gravenberch who are in that conversation.

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Why Ibrahima Konate has entered the Ballon d'Or conversation after Aston Villa performance

If Salah and Gravenberch are in the mix, which we believe they should be then so should Konate.

There is no better defender than him in the world, except for perhaps his club captain Virgil van Dijk.

The two of them have conceded just six goals in the Premier League (the fewest) and have also conceded one goal in the Champions League (the second fewest).

That remarkable record alone makes them worthy nominees for the Ballon d'Or at this early stage. Van Dijk anyway will put his name down because of his status.

But Konate should not go ignored.

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Not only does Konate have a better defensive duel success rate (72.5%) than Van Dijk (64.29%) as per Wyscout, he also averages more possession adjusted interceptions (7.16 per 90) compared to the Liverpool captain (6.74 per 90).

And no one has a better aerial duel success rate than Konate among any of the Premier League's centre-backs (77.14%).

He's simply unbeatable defensively.

If he can sustain those numbers he should be in the conversation for the Ballon d'Or next year if Liverpool can go on to win the Premier League and the Champions League.

There is a long road ahead until then. But for now at least Konate's name should be on the preliminary shortlist.

Especially, after his performance in the game on Saturday night against Aston Villa, where the Frenchman again didn't put a foot wrong, not for the first time this season.

At this stage, it's hard to argue he isn't one of the best centre-backs in the world. Name a better one than him (that's not Van Dijk) and you will struggle.

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