Liverpool star linked with exit says he now ‘wants to stay for long time’ after Carabao Cup win vs Chelsea

Liverpool’s historic Carabao Cup triumph over Chelsea has given the team a tremendous lift as a key player commits to the team going forward.

Liverpool had a number of notable absences going into the game, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai, Diogo Jota, Alisson Becker, and Mo Salah, all of whom were out with injury.

When Ryan Gravenberch was carted off the pitch in the first half after Moises Caicedo’s vicious challenge, Jurgen Klopp’s injury issues were even more acute.

Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate were both available, and despite their injury problems, Klopp greatly benefited from their presence as they provided a great deal of solidity to an otherwise inexperienced team.

Although the Dutchmen’s winner in the 118th minute captured the attention of many, Konate’s outstanding performance has not gone unnoticed.

The centre back joined Liverpool in 2021 after leaving RB Leipzig, and he has since made 82 appearances for the team across all competitions.

The French international’s admission that he had fantasised about playing for PSG had cast doubt on his future at Liverpool, but his remarks following the cup final will allay the fears of many supporters.

“It’s clear that I want to stay for a long time, it’s clear that I want to achieve things. The most important thing to stay here is to set the bar high,” Konate said, speaking to Téléfoot.

“We have to live with it, but in a positive way. It’s his last season with us, we’re giving him the best possible exit for everything he’s been able to do for this legendary club,” Konaté explained.

In addition, the Liverpool defender praised the German coach for his contributions to his career and reminisced about the time he informed the team that Klopp would be leaving.

“He told us in the dressing room, just like that, one morning at a meeting. I was quite surprised. I didn’t expect it in the context we were in,” Konate stated.

“Throwing me into the deep end. Liverpool, the Premier League, the Champions League, that’s something else. Everything he gave me enabled me to join the France team,”