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Star Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté has confirmed his long absence from the club after suffering a knee injury in Wednesday’s 2-0 win against Real Madrid. This is a massive blow for Liverpool and equally frustrating for the defender since he will miss the top-of-the-table Premier League clash against Manchester City, scheduled for Sunday, December 1. Liverpool's impressive start under Arne Slot has been largely due to the French international's form. Liverpool leads the Premier League standings by eight points and has won all five of its Champions League games so far.
Speaking of Konaté’s injury, the French footballer had to be helped off the pitch following the 2-0 win at Anfield and was evaluated at Liverpool's training facility on Thursday, November 28. However an official statement from the club is still awaited, the France international confirmed on Instagram as he faces a spell on the sidelines. “So frustrating to pick up this injury right at the end of a great game on Wednesday night,” he wrote. “Now we start the recovery process, but one thing I promise is I will come back and be the best I can be once again,” he added.
Ibrahima Konaté and Conor Bradley’s absence to be a big blow for Liverpool
Konate’s absence on Sunday is a huge setback for the Premier League leaders. The defender has been in excellent form this season alongside Virgil van Dijk, and with nine games in 29 days in December, Arne Slot’s squad will feel many absences. Joe Gomez or Jarell Quansah will replace Konaté against the defending Premier League champions.
Conor Bradley, who was brilliant against Real Madrid, could potentially miss out after injuring his hamstring on Wednesday, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to return to the starting lineup. Konaté has started every Premier League and Champions League game since replacing Jarell Quansah at halftime in the season opener against Ipswich.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot while speaking about the weekend match and Konate’s injury, said, “Still being assessed, so difficult to see where they are in terms of the injury. Let’s wait and see but it is never a good sign. Conor, I had to take him off and Ibou didn’t walk off the pitch as he should have after such a fantastic game he had, he should have made a round and clapped the fans."
