Liverpool pair have already justified Arne Slot's first brutal call as boss

With teams now having five substitutions to use and benches being bigger than ever, it is a surprise in some ways that coaches don't use what they have in reserve more, and earlier in games. It can have a big advantage to go bold early, still with four changes left to make, and Liverpool boss Arne Slot has already shown signs of doing that .

On the opening day of the campaign at Ipswich, he hooked Jarell Quansah at half-time and it wasn't due to injury. "First thing I said is we don't have to speak about tactics if we lose so many duels," Slot said post-match. "Not that Jarell lost every duel — many of us lost too many duels. But I think we needed Ibou Konate to win these long balls in the air from their number nine."

Since Konate entered the field, he has been the number one pick alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Liverpool defense. Quansah came in for the Carabao Cup but he has lost his place for now and Konate has managed to play three games back-to-back in the space of a week.

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The numbers back that bold decision up. During the start of this season so far, only Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin (35) has won more aerial duels than Van Dijk (30). Konate (25) makes the top five with only Kai Havertz (28) and Dan Burn (26) between him and Van Dijk.

According to FBref , Konate has won 86 per cent of his duels — three per cent more than the highest average in last season's top flight — and Van Dijk has won 73 per cent.

Konate has shown himself to be capable of picking up injuries in the past and even if he stays fit, Quansah — and Joe Gomez — will get more chances this season. Up to this point in the Slot era, though, the Dutchman's first-choice duo at center-back has become clear.

"He asks a lot from me but I like that," Van Dijk told reporters including from Liverpool.com this week. "He knows I am very comfortable on the ball in the back, and I have different weapons in my opinion.

"Obviously I can play 60 or 70 yards passes but I am also comfortable breaking the lines and if you have players who can use that position then speed up, like we have, it obviously helps. It gives me the responsibility — it starts with me, Ali, Ibou — hopefully to create a good attack."

Dominant in the air and excelling despite the changes in style under the new head coach, Van Dijk and Konate have only conceded two goals in seven Premier League matches to date. Up next comes a challenging week with Chelsea and Arsenal on either side of a midweek Champions League trip to RB Leipzig.

Liverpool.com says: Quansah has the potential to be world-class in the future, and it is only good news that he penned a contract extension earlier this week. Konate is among the next priorities for a new deal, and alongside Van Dijk, he has formed the league's best defensive partnership so far this season.