Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate reveals Trent Alexander-Arnold text message ahead of Quarter-Final clash
England and France lock horns in the Quarter-Finals of the FIFA World Cup on 10th December. This would be the first time that two players from Liverpool would face each other in the World Cup. Ibrahima Konate will be at odds against his club captain Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold this weekend.
Although Trent is unlikely to feature against France, his match-up against Konate is nothing new as the players have faced each other during their U-16 days as well, and naturally share a close bond ever since Ibou joined the Reds.
Ibou has played more minutes than Trent in the tournament, who played only 15 minutes against Wales in a dead rubber game. However, ahead of the QF clash, the two buddies shared a few texts which Konate spoke about in a pre-match conference.
As quoted by The Mirror, here is what Ibou said about the text Trent sent him ahead of their match-up:
“This rivalry has existed for a long time, in U16 I played England and it was a different match.”
“This rivalry has existed since the dawn of time. Alexander-Arnold sent me a message saying ‘see you Saturday my brother’ because I am very close to him.”
The two, very characteristically like the rest of the squad, are very close and have grown their friendship during Konate’s spell with Liverpool since 2021. The matchup between the two countries will be a close-knit affair given the high stakes.
It remains to be seen if the two start, however, Didier Deschamps has shown his preference to play Dayot Upamecano and Raphael Vaarane when fit, while Trent hasn’t started a single game for England so far in Qatar.
Old-School rivalry in the new age
England beat Senegal on their way to the quarter-finals, with Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson scoring the first goal for the Three Lions and put in a solid shift as well. Konate, though, has featured in all of France’s games but the Round of 16 fixture against Poland.
Unfortunate losers will head back to Liverpool’s training camp in Dubai, where they will unite with the rest of the squad and then fly back to England ahead of their match against Manchester City in the EFL Cup on 22nd December.
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Hopefully, this brotherly bond between Trent and Ibou stands rock solid in defence for the Reds in the second half of the tournament, and we have an outside chance of winning some silverware in what could be the worst start we have had to our league campaign in the last few seasons.
