Arne Slot issues Ibrahima Konate injury update as Liverpool star forced off against Chelsea

In partnership with

Evening Standard

·9 mai 2026

Arne Slot issues Ibrahima Konate injury update as Liverpool star forced off against Chelsea

Frenchman picked up muscular problem late on and was replaced by Joe Gomez

Arne Slot is optimistic Ibrahima Konate avoided a serious injury after being forced off in Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday.

Vidéos OneFootball

The Frenchman started alongside Virgil van Dijk in central defence at Anfield but was hooked with a quarter of an hour left to play after appearing to pick up an issue.

He pulled up off the ball and was replaced by Joe Gomez.

Speaking post-match, Slot explained Konate had self-diagnosed himself with cramp, but confirmed the player would undergo further tests this week to see if a deeper issue is lurking.

“Konate, we always have to wait and see, [but] the way he limped off, he told me it was cramp,” Slot explained. “Let's hope he is right in his assessment, but we have to wait and see tomorrow how he feels and how that will work out.”

Slot continued, adding that Mohamed Salah is nearing a return from his hamstring injury, as is Alisson Becker. Florian Wirtz missed the Chelsea match with an unspecified illness, though, and Slot acknowledged his recovery may be a longer process.

Ibrahima Konate came off with suspected cramp during Liverpool’s draw with Chelsea

PA

“I think Mo [Salah] is close to returning, Ali [Becker] is close to returning, but Flo [Wirtz] we have to wait and see how he is recovering after what he has.”

Liverpool return to action on Friday night, visiting Aston Villa as they continue their quest to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Saturday’s draw leaves them with three wins in their last eight Premier League matches.

Slot added that he expects to be able to get Liverpool fans back on side - though it might not happen until next season.

“This season they will have their opinion and it will not change. But if we can have the summer that we are planning to have, then I'm 100 per cent convinced that we will be a different team next season than we are now.

“Different in terms of results, different in how things look, but it's not always that simple because sometimes you know what you have to do, but it's not always possible to also get exactly what you want.

“For us, for me, it's really clear what we are lacking this season and we're trying with the players we have now because one of the things we are lacking is players that are fit.”