“He disappears at times from his position” – Mark Lawrenson feels Liverpool star still has a lot to learn

Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson has pointed out the defensive mistakes of Ibrahima Konate from their 1-0 FA Cup quarterfinal win over Nottingham Forest.

Diogo Jota's second-half goal was enough to see Liverpool through to the semi-finals of the world's oldest club competition. They will face title rivals Manchester City in the semifinals of the FA Cup on 16 April at Wembley.

One performance during yesterday's game that Lawrenson believes will not have impressed Jurgen Klopp is that of their £35 million man Konate. The 64-year-old first commented on the potential of the former RB Leipzig defender and told Off the Ball (via Rousing the Kop):

“Konate is learning, we know he’s going to be good, great physique, quick enough."

But he soon drew upon Konate's performance in the win, pointing out his error and comparing his attributes to that of Virgil van Dijk and continued:

“I just think, defensively, if you watch yesterday and if you watched West Ham as well, he disappears at times from his position and as good as van Dijk is, he can’t put his finger in the dike every time something happens.”

Liverpool kept a competitive Forest at bay but Lawrenson seemingly felt Konate didn't do much to stake a permanent place in Klopp's starting XI. However, unlike Lawrenson, Reds fans were full of praise for the Frenchman following his performance. The Frenchman has played 19 games across competitions this season and has helped the Reds keep an impressive 10 clean sheets in them.

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Jurgen Klopp has built a defense teams can only dream of at Liverpool

Konate is just one of the stars in Klopp's defense that has been hugely influential for the side this season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has shown why many consider him the best right-back in world football with his red-hot form. He currently has two goals and eleven assists in the Premier League this season. The England international has created the most 'big chances' so far this Premier League season with 16. Alexander-Arnold's attacking threat, defensive capabilities and dead-ball prowess have earned him praise from pundits and fans.

Andy Robertson continues to show consistency at left-back despite the impressive performances of understudy Kostas Tsimikas. The Scotsman has been a regular in Klopp's side since his £8.10 million move from Hull City in 2017. He has strong leadership qualities along with a tenaciousness to deal with opposition attackers.

Virgil van Dijk continues to be a world-class centre-back with his aerial dominance being vital for the Reds. His partnership with the hugely impressive Joel Matip has been one of the best pairings of the season. The latter was voted February's 'Premier League Player of the Month'.

The likes of Kostas Tsimikas, Konate and Joe Gomez have all made an impact when called upon. The side even possesses a talented understudy to the incredible Alisson Becker. Caiomhin Kelleher showed during the Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea just what a capable shot-stopper he can be.