Liverpool return to motion within the Premier League on Saturday within the lunchtime kick-off at Craven Cottage in opposition to promoted Fulham, and a brand new replace has emerged from a dependable supply concerning an harm drawback for the Reds.
What’s the newest?
In line with The Athletic’s Liverpool reporter James Pearce, Ibrahima Konate might be out for the foreseeable future with a knee harm sustained within the pre-season pleasant in opposition to Strasbourg final weekend and won’t be obtainable for choice in opposition to Fulham tomorrow on the very least.
Jurgen Klopp adopted up Pearce’s report in his pre-match press convention this morning, giving a bit extra element on the participant’s harm points as he stated (by way of Liverpool Echo): “Ibou in a problem within the recreation in opposition to Strasbourg, what occurred there we now have to see how lengthy it’s going to take however he’s out for some time.”
Klopp might be gutted
For a workforce like Liverpool who’re anticipated to be in rivalry for the Premier League title but once more this season, begin with a strong workforce to deploy will at all times be advantageous within the early levels of the marketing campaign, so Klopp will certainly be gutted that Konate will now be out for some time.
The Liverpool supervisor adopted up his evaluation of the Frenchman’s harm, with a declare that the Reds would now be unlikely to promote Nat Phillips this summer time to cowl the 23-year-old’s defender’s absence, following curiosity from each Fulham and Bournemouth.
When requested about Phillips’ possibilities of staying at Anfield, Klopp responded (by way of Liverpool Echo): “Most likely. (Konate’s harm) will affect the outgoing transfers, I’d say.”
Konate settled in spectacularly properly at Liverpool after becoming a member of final summer time and performed a beneficial half within the Reds’ problem for 4 trophies and victories within the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, showcasing his confidence and expertise within the Champions League with two targets in opposition to Benfica.
Over 11 Premier League performances, the Frenchman made 78.8 touches, 1.5 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and three.4 clearances per recreation and tallied a 92% go completion charge in his personal half, additionally successful the vast majority of his duels (62%) and efficiently finishing the vast majority of his dribbles (67%).
Will Konate be a giant miss for Liverpool?
Sure
No
Certainly, Joel Matip will seemingly be the first-choice companion for Virgil van Dijk, with Joe Gomez subsequent in line in Konate’s absence, judging by their respective top-flight minutes in 2021/22.
Nonetheless, each Matip and Gomez are famend for having harm points, so Klopp received’t be taking any possibilities by preserving Phillips on standby ought to the worst case situation current itself once more because it did in 2020/21, when Liverpool had virtually all of their defenders injured.
There is no such thing as a doubt that the Reds supervisor might be disenchanted to lose Konate so early within the season, and he might be hoping that the possible centre-back duo of Matip and Van Dijk can comfortably maintain their very own when their league season will get underway at Craven Cottage this weekend.
