Virgil van Dijk APPLAUDS Liverpool star doing 'much better' off the pitch

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has moved to applaud one teammate who is doing ‘much better’ off the pitch. That's translating into fantastic improvements.

Ibrahima Konate had a notable game on Saturday to say the least. He was, for the most part, fantastic. The Frenchman bagged Liverpool's opening goal and was incredibly solid throughout.

Except for that one moment.

Konate gave away Wolves' equaliser, essentially. He attempted to shield it back to Alisson Becker but the goalkeeper never wanted it - something the defender missed because he didn't actually look at his teammate.

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Wolves wrestled the ball off of him six yards from goal and had it in the net seconds later. Not good.

Still, Konate later reminded everyone of just how good he is with a goal-saving block off a Wolves counter-attack. He is a fantastic defender, but one who can be a bit error-prone.

Virgil van Dijk, though, is focusing on the positives and believes his defensive partner is making great strides this season. On and off the pitch.

Virgil van Dijk on Ibrahima Konate

“We need everyone to be at their best,” said Van Dijk, per Liverpoolfc.com. “Ibou is an amazing, fantastic player who can still be better.

“He is defensively solid and was a bit unlucky with the goal that we conceded but the qualities he has, he is outstanding.

“He is learning and he is growing, getting better and looking after himself much better, to be ready every three days — and also he has a young player behind him in Jarell [Quansah] who is also a good one, so they keep pushing each other.”

The fact that Konate is looking after himself 'much better' is a fantastic sign. It's one you always want to hear of players - that they're going the extra mile off the pitch in order to thrive on it.

It sounds like Konate has had a rethink about the way he handles that side of things. It's a change that should see him available for selection far more often and hopefully sees him a little more solid throughout the campaign.

He's always been a top talent. This season

might just be the year he realises it.