Ibrahima Konate is desperate to win trophies for “unbelievable” Mohamed Salah and has tipped his Liverpool team-mate to win the Ballon d'Or.
The 32-year-old Egyptian striker is currently enjoying the best season of his illustrious career, with 21 goals and 17 assists in 29 games for the Premier League champions.
Salah has previously finished fifth in the Ballon d'Or standings and Konate is determined to help Liverpool win as many trophies as possible.
“Everything he's done since the start of the season, even from Liverpool, has been crazy,” defender Konate said.
“I really hope that he will achieve great things this season because if he continues like this, I think he will win the Ballon d'Or at the end of the season.
“I think his ambition is to win big things with Liverpool, so he'll never say it. He said, 'Okay. I want to score more goals. He doesn't really think about himself like, 'I want to get more assists' – he just wants to win the game.
“He is new players, He just wanted to share his experience with the young players. For me, to be such a professional player at his age is unbelievable.”
Konate on Van Dijk: 'Left-back'
Ahead of Konate's arrival at Anfield, Dutch defender Van Dijk has heaped praise on fellow centre-back and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
“What kind of quarterback?” He smiled again. “When I was in Leipzig and watched a few Liverpool games, I had no idea how good he was.
“Sometimes when I come here, I think, no How is this possible? He is very good. When I first got here, he gave me a lot of advice and helped me adapt.
“How do we need him on the field now?” I think he and I are the same. We work together and strive to be the best partner in the world.
“Some strikers have seen Virgil and said, 'Okay. Now I have no chance to fight him.' Not 100 percent.”
Slot vs Klopp
Only Arsenal have bettered the Reds' defensive record this season since manager Arne Slot succeeded Jurgen Klopp on Merseyside, and the duo's defensive chemistry has taken it to the next level.
Konate believes that Slot brings a new level of control and explains the differences between how this term works compared to its German predecessor.
He said: “(Trent Alexander-Arnold) leaves me a big space to defend and that helps a lot when we attack. But the way the manager explained to us all about defending helped me and the team a lot.
“Compared to last season or the season before, we have become more dominant. But now when we lose the ball, everyone tries to help the team and I think we are more alike.
“No one expected the manager to do what he has done since the start of the season. He has a good idea of how to play and knows what to do and not to adapt to another team. I think it makes a lot of difference for us compared to Jagan's days.”