Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has withdrawn from international duty with France and returned to Merseyside for further assessment after sustaining a quad injury,
This intensifies concerns over the Reds defensive depth ahead of next weekend’s Premier League showdown with Manchester United.
The 26-year-old had been called up to Didier Deschamps’ squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Iceland despite limping off during Liverpool’s 2–1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend. He was replaced in the 56th minute by Curtis Jones after signalling discomfort in his right leg an incident that immediately set alarm bells ringing for head coach Arne Slot.
“I don’t know if it is a big injury,” Slot admitted post-match. “But what I do know is he limped a little bit and when I asked him he said he felt his quad a little bit. Then, for me, all alarm bells go off because in another sprint you never know if that is going to go good.”
Konaté joined up with the France squad at Clairefontaine earlier this week and initially trained separately from the main group as staff sought to assess the extent of the issue.
After being deemed fit enough for limited involvement, he was included on the bench for Friday night’s 3–0 win over Azerbaijan a move that briefly calmed fears among Liverpool supporters that the injury wasn’t serious.
However, the French Football Federation confirmed that following discussions between Deschamps, the medical team, and the player, Konaté would not travel for Monday’s match against Iceland and would instead return to Liverpool.
The FFF’s statement said the decision had been made “after consultation with the player and medical staff,” with Marseille defender Benjamin Pavard called up as his replacement.
The news comes as another unwelcome blow for Slot, whose defensive resources have already been stretched thin. Liverpool are without Giovanni Leoni for the remainder of the season following ACL surgery, leaving Joe Gomez as the only other fit, senior centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk.
The Dutchman, has shouldered an immense workload in the early months of the campaign, and Slot faces a balancing act to avoid overburdening his captain.
Behind them, Liverpool’s options are alarmingly scarce. Slot has experimented in pre season with potential emergency solutions, including Ryan Gravenberch, Andy Robertson, and Wataru Endo.
In the meantime, Liverpool’s medical staff will oversee a thorough assessment of Konaté’s quad issue upon his return to Kirkby. The hope within the camp is that the injury is minor and that he could resume full training later in the week. However, the reality is that any muscular problem particularly in an area as delicate as the quadriceps carries a risk of recurrence if managed hastily.
Liverpool face Manchester United at Anfield next Sunday in what already feels like a pivotal fixture in the early stages of Arne Slot’s second season in charge. With the Reds short on defensive options and in need of a response after their defeat at Stamford Bridge, Konaté’s availability could have a significant bearing on the outcome.
The Frenchman’s absence would not only deprive Liverpool of one of their most physically dominant defenders but also force Slot into further reshuffling at a time when stability at the back is sorely needed.
Whether he’s there against Manchester United may depend on how the next few days unfold at the AXA Training Centre.
