Liverpool begin their Carabao Cup campaign with an away trip to Norwich City in Tuesday night

Liverpool begin their Carabao Cup campaign with an away trip to Norwich City in Tuesday night

Aidy Ward had previously represented former Liverpool player Raheem Sterling as well as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Aidy Ward had previously represented former Liverpool player Raheem Sterling as well as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

The Old Trafford side posted a heavy loss in their latest quarterly figures

The Old Trafford side posted a heavy loss in their latest quarterly figures

Boffins at the CIES Football Observatory have predicted where Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool will finish in the Premier League this season

Boffins at the CIES Football Observatory have predicted where Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool will finish in the Premier League this season

The Premier League title race is only just getting started, but Chelsea are seriously impressive right now, says MOTD2 pundit Alan Shearer.

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Ветеран "Ливерпуля" Джеймс Милнер заявил, что "красные" должны проявить заботу в отношении защитника Виргила Ван Дейка, набирающего форму после тяжелой травмы.

Перед тем, как поучаствовать в разгроме "Кристал Пэлас" в субботу (3:0), Ван Дейк пропустил победный для "Ливерпуля" матч Лиги Чемпионов против "Милана" посреди недели.

Милнер считает ротацию проявлением заботы со стороны клуба — Виргилу не помешает быть осторожным на пути к возвращению в свою лучшую форму.

"Все мы считаем Вирджа Суперменом, в 99 случаях из 100".

"Он выглядит так хорошо с момента своего возвращения, но он перенес очень серьезную травму, и ему, знаете ли, уже не 21".

"Это невероятно, как он играет после своего возвращения. Это показывает, каким хорошим игроком является и какой у него характер".

"Но в то же время о нем нужно заботиться, как бы его ни злило, когда он остается вне игры. Ему нужна забота, и этому помогает ротация".

"Посмотрите на центральных защитников в этом клубе — все они невероятны. Ты видишь их на тренировках и понимаешь, что они неподражаемы".

"Думаю, ротация — это важно. Нам не повезло с травами на этой позиции в прошлом году, и игрокам приходилось играть не на своих местах. Думаю, ротация поможет избежать таких вещей", — цитирует Милнера Sky Sports.

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Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita scored a stunning volley in the Reds' 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace and Sadio Mane has since compared him to a Manchester United icon

Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita scored a stunning volley in the Reds' 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace and Sadio Mane has since compared him to a Manchester United icon

Konate learned 'harsh lessons' on Liverpool debut, says Klopp | Goal.comLiverpool v Crystal Palace

James Westwood

Last Updated22 hours ago

Sep 19, 202111:17 UTC +00:00Comments

The German head coach insists that there is "a lot more to come" from the Reds' big-money summer signing

Jurgen Klopp says Ibrahima Konate learned "harsh lessons" on his competitive debut for Liverpool against Crystal Palace.

Konate was made to wait for his first outing for the Reds, having initially been signed from RB Leipzig for £36 million ($54m) back in June.

The 22-year-old sat out Liverpool's opening four Premier League fixtures and a 3-2 Champions League win over AC Milan in midweek, but finally took his bow in a home fixture against Palace on Saturday.

Editors' Picks What's been said?

Konate slotted in at centre-half alongside Virgil van Dijk and helped Klopp's side record a clean sheet in a comfortable 3-0 victory, but did have a few shaky moments against the Eagles' formidable attacking unit.

Asked if the Frenchman was made to adapt to his system, the German head coach told reporters post-match: "Definitely and I think that is very important. We all saw what potential the boy has, it is incredible, physically, his technique, his game-understanding, it is all there.

"But when you are a young boy already skilled then you rely sometimes on those skills and the Premier League teaches you harsh lessons sometimes. Today against Palace was a good example, Wilf Zaha, Ayew, Edouard, these were proper strikers.

"Maybe it is not so nice when you play a completely new last line but together with Virg and Milly (James Milner, at right-back) it worked really well. Kostas Tsimikas played a superb game too.

"Konate is in a good way, I am really happy. But there is a lot more to come from Ibou, he is still young and yes he has to adapt, they have all had to adapt to the way we play and to the league as well because it is a special league."

Klopp on rotation

Konate's introduction was one of six changes Klopp made to the side that beat Milan, and the Liverpool boss has promised to continue tinkering with the starting XI as his side negotiate their way through a punishing domestic and European schedule.

“You want to line up the best possible team and there are different factors; one is who played together?” he said. "It was ‘rhythm or freshness?’ and we decided for freshness. Otherwise, we could have played one or another again, but we didn’t want that.

“I don’t know what it says exactly, but we had to do the changes, that was clear. We will rotate, we always rotated, but you see in the last line in the last years we couldn’t rotate really because there were always a maximum of two fit [centre-backs] very often – and the third one was already a midfielder.

“In midfield, hopefully we have the numbers to do it and we need that because this is the engine room of the team and we need to make the changes there. Up front, we have different opportunities as well, so that’s good. How often we do it, I didn’t make a plan already for the season, but as often as necessary and possible.”

What's next?

Liverpool will now look ahead to a third-round Carabao Cup meeting with Norwich on Tuesday, before their focus switches back to the Premier League and a trip to newly-promoted Brentford on September 25.

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Liverpool transfer news, rumours, gossip and speculation including latest on Mohamed Salah, Divock Origi, Kingsley Coman, Franck Kessie, Youri Tielemans and more

Virgil van Dijk was rested when Liverpool hosted AC Milan in midweek before returning to the side on Saturday for the win over Crystal Palace

Liverpool transfer news, rumours, gossip and speculation including latest on Mohamed Salah, Divock Origi, Kingsley Coman, Franck Kessie, Youri Tielemans and more

Virgil van Dijk was rested when Liverpool hosted AC Milan in midweek before returning to the side on Saturday for the win over Crystal Palace

The stakeholders in Liverpool's owners are reported to be closing in on another major investment

The stakeholders in Liverpool's owners are reported to be closing in on another major investment

Konate was given his debut against Crystal Palace and fitted in seamlessly. Jurgen Klopp now has an embarrassment of defensive riches