Ibrahima Konate's actions after avoiding Liverpool red card against Wolves speak volumes
Arne Slot admitted that he took off Ibrahima Konate at half-time of Liverpool's 2-1 win over Wolves on Sunday as he was concerned that the centre-back would be sent off
Ibrahima Konate wasted no time in preparing for Liverpool's next big game at Aston Villa on Wednesday night after being substituted against Wolves to avoid the risk of being sent off.
French centre-back Konate was withdrawn at half-time of Sunday's hard-fought 2-1 victory at Anfield, with Reds boss Arne Slot admitting he was concerned that the 25-year-old would receive a 'soft' red card.
Konate was booked by referee Simon Hooper for a tug on Wolves forward Matheus Cunha in the 31st minute, before colliding with Cunha and committing a foul on the edge of the penalty area eight minutes later.
Slot felt a red card would have been a harsh decision, but admitted that was his concern and the reason why he replaced Konate with Jarell Quansah at the break.
“I took him off because of that. I saw him getting his first yellow – that for me was a soft yellow," said Slot..
"If he got his second one for a shoulder push that would have again been a soft yellow so he would have been sent off for two soft yellows. I think the referee felt the same and that’s why he didn’t [book him].
“But I’ve watched football so many times in my life and I know that a player and the referee is then under pressure. So the next foul will lead to a referee thinking that maybe he should give it.
"It is so difficult to play 45 minutes against a strong Wolves team so I had to take Ibou off because you can’t play football knowing in your head you can’t make a foul against such good players as Wolves have.”
Quansah would deliver an impressive second half display as the Reds held on for a nervy win, but Slot will be expected to pick Konate from the start again for Wednesday night's trip to Villa Park.
And the centre-back immediately began preparing for that game after sitting out the second half at Anfield. In a video on his Instagram Story with the caption 'Second half', Konate is shown working out in the players' gym still in his full kit from the first period.
The Reds have now pulled seven points clear of second placed Arsenal with the victory, and will hope to stretch that lead to 10 on Wednesday.
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