IBRAHIMA KONATE broke down in tears after scoring in his first game back following the death of his father.
The Liverpool defender, 26, missed matches against Marseille, Bournemouth and Qarabag after his personal tragedy.
And he couldn’t contain his emotion after scoring the Reds’ fourth in a 4-1 win over Newcastle.
Konate had initially pulled out of the Champions League clash with Marseille earlier this month due to a “family matter”.
It was later confirmed he had flown home following the death of his father, Hamady.
The French international would miss two more matches, before returning to the starting XI for the must-win match against Newcastle.
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And he put in a superb shift as the Reds were up against the wall against the Toon for much of the game.
Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz turned the game on its head after the visitors took an early lead to put Arne Slot‘s side 3-1 up.
And in the final moments of the match at Anfield, Konate poked home to make it 4-1 and truly seal victory.
Konate couldn’t contain his emotion as he broke down in tears as he was embraced by centre-back partner Virgil van Dijk.
After the game, he revealed: “I don’t have words to describe what I feel right now.
“It was a very difficult moment for me and my family in the last two weeks.
“But this is part of life.”
Konate revealed Kop boss Slot told him to take as much time as he needed to get his head right.
He continued: ”The manager said to me I didn’t have to rush back but it was important for me to help the team.”
Konate continues to be an important part of Slot’s reigning champions, having started every Premier League game of season prior to missing the Bournemouth clash.
However, he is out of contract in the summer and is widely expected to leave on a free transfer.
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