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.

READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp legacy already undermined - Liverpool doubters know what they are doing

READ MORE: I tried to talk Liverpool out of signing my star striker - but we were stunned by how much they paid

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 Klopp. "That’s how it is and we don’t play with three centre-halves or whatever, so it means we have to make a decision and Jarell is training really well. That doesn’t mean Ibou or Joey (Gomez) wouldn’t train well, but Jarell trained really well.

"There is no rotation necessary now. That’s why he played. Yes, he pushed himself in a really, really good situation, that’s true. And I think the (Tottenham) game justified that decision. He was really good in that game as well. A very, very talented player. Really, really good."

Van Dijk and Konate, as would be expected, have been the most regular centre-back partnership for Liverpool this season with 22 starts together. But Van Dijk and Quansah are next with 14 with half of them having come since mid-March when the duo lined up in the 1-1 home draw with Manchester City.

Quansah has edged ahead of Konate in the pecking order. And, intriguingly, the two games Liverpool have lost in the top flight of late - at home to Crystal Palace and away to Everton - were both with the latter starting. When Quansah replaced Konate midweek through the second half after the Frenchman suffered a difficult evening, it was the first time he had featured in a losing side in the Premier League.

There is another concern with Konate. Niggling injury has contributed to him starting only 17 Premier League games this season, matching his tally for last term. And in his debut campaign, he started only nine such matches, although in mitigation he was available throughout and was instead reserved for cup games, of which he began 15. However, a total of 43 Premier League starts in almost three full seasons is fewer the tally managed by Van Dijk and Joel Matip over the same period.

Still only 24, Konate has plenty of time on his side - Van Dijk has previously stated he believes the Frenchman could be his long-term successor - and will look to restore any lost confidence when featuring in the forthcoming European Championships. And the emergence of Quansah has given Konate incentive to improve, as well as justified Liverpool's decision last summer not to buy a new centre-back.

But with Matip due to imminently depart on a free transfer after eight years, the Reds' new-look recruitment team know defensive reinforcement is a priority this summer. Extra competition for places and the need to impress a new manager could help kickstart Konate's spluttering Anfield career. A pivotal season awaits for the Frenchman.