Liverpool forced into major summer transfer as defender faces new challenge
It was an easily-overlooked full stop on an chastening afternoon for Liverpool. But the defeat at Arsenal back in February has proven a turning point nobody would have envisaged at the start of the season.
As the Reds slumped to an avoidable 3-1 reverse to their Premier League title rivals, Ibrahima Konate was contentiously given a second yellow card and subsequent red card, much to the annoyance of Jurgen Klopp.
And as well as breathing new life into the Gunners' title challenge and revealing a secondary career for their midfielder Martin Odegaard as a photographer, it also provided a watershed moment for Konate.
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Since then, the Liverpool centre-back has started just five of 12 Premier League games, having lined up for nine of the previous 14. And only partly can that be explained by a one-game suspension and a brief recurrence of a hamstring problem that has dogged the France international throughout the season.
The primary reason has been the impressive form of Jarell Quansah who, the mistake at Manchester United notwithstanding, has been outstanding since being thrown into the first team from the bench at Newcastle United back in August.
Indeed, his performance in the 4-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend justified his selection, which was a third start in the last four games. Few would be surprised if Quansah retains his place alongside skipper Virgil van Dijk for the visit to Aston Villa on Monday.
"We play once a week (now) and we just look at who looks in the best moment, and Jarell is one of them," says Liverpool boss
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