Liverpool did not begin the game against Wolves in good shape at all on Saturday.
The Reds came into the match in vibrant form having won three games on the bounce across three separate competitions.
That was expected to continue against a Wolves side bottom of the Premier League table and still looking for their first win of the season.
However, it was an especially sluggish beginning from Liverpool at Molineux. Had the home side been a little more confident in their approach, they could easily have taken the lead.
It was a second goal of the season for Konate who looks back to his fantastic best. But while it was not a surprise to see the Frenchman rise highest to beat Sam Johnstone, former Ireland international Andy Reid spotted something unexpected about the goal.
Diogo Jota turns creator for Liverpool
Although they were collectively really poor at times during a difficult first-half at Molineux, there were one or two bright spots for Liverpool.
Perhaps the best player on the pitch for the Reds was Jota, who was back facing his old team once again.
Instead, the Reds rode their luck and eventually found the breakthrough; Ibrahima Konate powering home a header from an excellent Diogo Jota cross.
Having scored twice in the Carabao Cup in midweek, the Portuguese is a man in form.
And with Darwin Nunez ruled out of the Liverpool squad through illness, Jota got the nod from Arne Slot to lead the line again.
He was not always clean and tidy on his return to Molineux, but the 27-year-old gave Liverpool their best moments of the half.
Jota’s tenacity to beat his man and whip a left-footed cross in for Konate to convert showcased so many of his best attributes.
But commentating for BBC 5 Live, Reid said that Jota’s decision to go on his left-foot had surprised him.
“Lovely piece of play on the left from Jota,” said the former winger. “We all expected him to come inside on his right, but he goes on his left foot and what a cross on his left foot – he put it on a plate for Konate.”
Diogo Jota makes the most of Darwin Nunez absence
There’s no question that Slot will not have been happy with what he saw from Liverpool on Saturday evening.
It’s difficult to put your finger on quite what went wrong for the Reds, but they looked a long way short of their best right from the get-go.
Jota was not immune to that, but he was certainly more assured than a lot of his teammates.
With Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah failing to make any kind of impact, Jota was comfortably the most effective Liverpool forward on the pitch.
Unable to turn to Nunez off the bench as he likes to, Slot saw Jota underline why he is first choice at the moment.