Slot Lauds Konate and Jones as Liverpool Target Continued Defensive Solidity at Spurs

Key Takeaways:

• Ibrahima Konate has contributed to Liverpool’s three clean sheets in an ongoing five-game unbeaten run ahead of their trip to Tottenham on Saturday
• Arne Slot has highlighted Konate’s recent improvement after being involved in goals conceded during a difficult autumn spell
• Curtis Jones has received praise from Slot for delivering three consecutive standout performances, reaching his 200th appearance for the club

Defensive Revival for the Reds

Arne Slot has called on Ibrahima Konate to maintain the impressive defensive displays that have played a key role in Liverpool’s recent run of form as they prepare for Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur. The French centre-half, regularly partnered with club captain Virgil van Dijk, has started every league match this campaign.

Earlier in the season, Konate’s performances were scrutinised during a period when Liverpool struggled, suffering six defeats between late September and November. Despite this dip, the team has recently stabilised, going five matches without defeat across all competitions. During this sequence, the Reds have kept three clean sheets, including successes over West Ham United, Inter Milan in the Champions League, and most recently, a 2-0 win at Anfield against Brighton last weekend.

🗣️ Arne Slot on Konate:

“For centre-backs it is not uncommon to be at the crime scene if you concede but he has been unlucky at times and moments can decide games. When you are involved in some moments like Ibou, it has an immediate impact on the result.

Recently he has not… pic.twitter.com/B5xCjwfVAn

— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) December 19, 2025

Konate’s Form Under the Spotlight

Following Liverpool’s 3-3 draw against Leeds, Slot remarked that Konate had been “too often at the crime scene” when goals were conceded. Despite this, the manager said he has been encouraged by the defender’s subsequent resurgence and indicated that Konate is expected to retain his starting place against Tottenham.

“For centre-backs that is not an uncommon thing to be on the crime scene if you concede goals but he has been unlucky a few times, where he played a good game in my opinion but a moment decides the game,” Slot said.

“We play a low scoring game, football, that is the nice thing about football and why teams who are not as good can also win the game, and then when you are involved in a moment like Ibou it has an immediate impact on the result. And then maybe people are not as positive about that as they should be if you look at his performances.

“But recently he has not been on the crime scene and that is the way we prefer to see him. We prefer to see all of our players [away from the crime scene], but that is not only about him.”

“He has helped out recently than before, we are less vulnerable in situations than we were earlier in the season. And that has had an immediate impact on centre-backs and Ibou is a centre-back. So let’s keep it like this.”

Spotlight on Curtis Jones’ Milestone

Slot also used the opportunity to praise Curtis Jones for his recent performances. Jones, who recently reached his 200th appearance for Liverpool, has been a standout over his last three fixtures.

He added: “He has done really good in the last three games and I think that is not the first time, but maybe since I am here it is the first time that three times in a row he brings in very very good performances.

“He’s had good performances in the past and then maybe the game later I didn’t like the performance as much recently in his last three. It is again the challenge to go to the fourth, the fifth, the sixth game.

“But I think I am not the only one who liked the way he played with so much confidence, with so much work rate, giving it all in every single moment for the team and really comfortable on the ball as well.

“So his last three performances are the base for where we expect him to go on but that starts tomorrow against a difficult opponent in Spurs.”