Former Arsenal defender William Gallas does not think William Saliba or Gabriel Magalhaes is the best defender in the Premier League, with the Frenchman believing that title goes to Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate.
Konate started the new Premier League season on the bench but has lined up in all of Liverpool’s league and Champions League matches since the opening weekend of the campaign, establishing a rock-solid partnership with Reds skipper Virgil van Dijk.
The 25-year-old joined Liverpool in July 2021 and after three years operating largely as a back-up option, Konate has now established himself as a bonafide first-teamer.
A few weeks ago, Konate found himself up against one of the most dangerous wingers in the Premier League in Gabriel Martinelli when Liverpool traveled to Arsenal, and Gallas said that Martinelli’s approach to that individual battle spoke volumes about just how much Konate has improved.
“Right now, I think the best defender in the Premier League this season is Ibrahima Konate,” Gallas told Prime Casino. “At this moment in time, on current form, it has to be Konate.
“He improved a lot from last season. He’s very solid. But I’ve seen some of his games now and it looks like nobody wants to challenge him. When you have that aura, that presence, that’s magnificent for a defender to have.
“I’m sure most strikers or wingers don’t want to play against him. They don’t want to have the challenge against Konate. When Liverpool played at the Emirates, Martinelli didn’t want to challenge him. He already knew he was going to lose that duel. Konate, if he continues like this, will be the best. He will be in the starting 11 for the Premier League team of the year.”
Gallas added that he anticipates Liverpool to last the course in the title race. “Listen, that Liverpool team, they are strong,” he added. “They are certainly going to be in the title race for the rest of the season.”
Liverpool went into the international break five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table after beating Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield. The Reds have won 15 of their 17 matches in all competitions under Arne Slot, boasting a 100 percent record in the EFL Cup and the Champions League and only failing to beat Nottingham Forest and Arsenal in the league.
