Reds Receive Konate Boost
Liverpool fans can breathe a sigh of relief following the news that defender Ibrahima Konate has made a swift recovery from a wrist injury sustained during Saturday’s Premier League victory over Brighton.
The French centre-back was substituted at halftime after Virgil van Dijk inadvertently stepped on his arm during a set-piece. The skipper almost looked on a mission to take out as many of his own team-mates as possible, also clattering Kostas Tsimikas in a separate incident.
Initial concerns hinted that Konate could miss several weeks, which would have been terrible timing as the club juggles a demanding schedule across domestic and European competitions. Fortunately scans have confirmed no fracture though, with the player suffering only cuts and tissue damage.
Konate himself took to Instagram to reassure fans, stating, “My injury isn’t serious thankfully. I had a scan today and it confirmed there is no break. I’ll be ready for the next game.” True to his word, Konate was seen training normally on Monday, indicating he is fit to face Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
Manager Arne Slot confirmed that Konate should be available for the Champions League clash, as the Reds look to continue their 100% start in the competition.
“He’s available to play,” Slot said, speaking at a pre-match press conference.
“I think he’s completely recovered so he can play. Then it’s up to me to make the decision if he plays or not. He’s in a good place.”
Should Slot choose to give Konate additional time to recover, either Joe Gomez or Jarell Quansah will step up to partner van Dijk at the back. Gomez was the preferred option following Konate’s withdrawal against Brighton, and his manager praised the 27-year-old’s contribution, noting, “Joe is a top, top professional…he always gives the best for the team.”
Whilst Konate’s return offers a welcome boost, Slot remains cautious following an unimpressive first-half display against the Seagulls as the Reds struggled both in possession and in their defensive shape. With Bayer Leverkusen likely to offer similar challenges, Slot emphasized the importance of a consistent, high-level performance across the full 90 minutes, underscoring that they cannot afford another sluggish start.
Alisson Becker, Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota will all definitely miss the Leverkusen clash, with the quartet again absent from training on Monday. Slot has previously confirmed that they are expected to remain unavailable until after the November international break.