Liverpool face an anxious wait to find out if Ibrahima Konate will be fit to face Manchester City later this month, with a key update emerging over his current injury absence.
The Reds have gone into the international break with some much-needed momentum back, beating Brentford 3-0 after failing to win their last two matches.
City’s thrilling 4-4 draw away to Chelsea acted as an added bonus for Jurgen Klopp’s side, who are now in second place and only one point behind the reigning Premier League champions.
Liverpool’s next assignment is as tough as it gets, with the Merseysiders heading to the Etihad on November 25th, in what could be a pivotal game in the title race come next May.
The fact that it is a Saturday 12.30pm kickoff after an international break is far from ideal, however, with the Reds historically struggling for rhythm in those matches.
Klopp will also be sweating over the fitness of certain key players, too, with Konate, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch all missing the Brentford win, among others.
Taking to X, journalist Fabrice Hawkins claimed that Konate’s absence is a two-week one, although that potentially started last week because he mentions the injury being picked up before the clash with Toulouse in the Europa League:
“Victim of a small muscle injury to the left hamstring with Liverpool in the Europa League on Thursday in Toulouse during the warm-up, Ibrahima Konate was unable to play this weekend with Liverpool. His injury requires approximately two weeks of treatment.”
Our thoughts on Konate being out of Man City-Liverpool clash…
Konate is undoubtedly Liverpool’s second-best centre-back behind Virgil van Dijk, so to have him missing from the biggest game of the season so far would be an almighty blow.
It does look as though that is far more likely, considering the 24-year-old will be lacking match practice even if he is technically fit by next Saturday, so Klopp may not want to take a risk with him.
Having him on the substitutes’ bench could be the best that Liverpool can hope for, but on the plus side, Joel Matip has been in good form this season, so he acts as a strong deputy option, while Joe Gomez could also fill in.
If Konate is passed fit, it would act as a huge bonus for the Reds, but it would be a surprise if he was named in Klopp’s starting lineup to face City.
