Injury Relief for Liverpool as Key Defender Back in Training | OneFootball

Liverpool Receive Major Boost as Konate Returns to Training

Defender’s Positive Update After Arsenal Scare

Liverpool have been handed a timely lift with Ibrahima Konate returning to full training with France just days after his injury scare in the 1-0 win over Arsenal. The centre-back was substituted in the 79th minute at Anfield, watching from the sidelines as Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick sealed victory.

Photo: IMAGO

Manager Arne Slot remained calm when asked about the severity of Konate’s injury, explaining, “He thinks it is cramp and I have no reason to doubt him, although sometimes players talk about cramp and then we make a scan and it is more than that.”

Slot added, “Jeremie Frimpong wasn’t too happy, like some pundits and journalists, when I took him off against Bournemouth because he thought he only had cramp, or only felt a little bit, and he is already out for two or three weeks now. Let’s wait and see.”

Photo IMAGO

Squad Depth on Display

Slot praised Joe Gomez’s late cameo, saying, “On a positive note… Joe Gomez, what a 15 minutes. I had to make one difficult choice today because I had to leave one player out of the squad with only Jeremie Frimpong being injured, so then I only had to make one difficult decision on who I could not take in the squad. The good thing was it was a centre-back, Giovanni Leoni, so we are perfectly placed in that position.”

Photo IMAGO

Konate’s quick recovery highlights Liverpool’s defensive depth, with young talents like Leoni providing backup.

International Stage Beckons

Konate joined the France squad on Monday and was back in full training the following day, pictured going shoulder to shoulder with Liverpool team-mate Hugo Ekitike as Les Bleus prepare for a crucial week of fixtures.

France will begin their World Cup qualification campaign against Ukraine on Friday before hosting Iceland in Paris. With Arsenal’s William Saliba ruled out through injury, Konate is expected to feature prominently.

Liverpool’s Relief Over Key Defender

Liverpool’s title defence relies heavily on Konate’s fitness. His commanding presence at the heart of defence has been central to Slot’s plans, and this positive update eases fears of a lengthy absence. The 25-year-old’s return is a major boost as Liverpool prepare for a demanding run of fixtures following the international break.