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Liverpool: James Pearce reveals Ibrahima Konate a ‘fitness doubt’ to face Man City
The Athletic’s Liverpool reporter James Pearce has revealed that Ibrahima Konate is a ‘fitness doubt’ ahead of the Reds’ Premier League clash at home to Manchester City this afternoon.
The Lowdown: Injury pile-up
Injuries are really starting to pile up for Jurgen Klopp’s side, with Luis Diaz the latest on the treatment table facing a spell on the sidelines until after the World Cup in Qatar (Premier Injuries).
The likes of Joel Matip, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Arthur Melo also have longer-term injuries, while both Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also major doubts for the match at Anfield today (Premier Injuries).
The Latest: Konate also a doubt
Taking to Twitter on Saturday afternoon, Pearce has revealed that Konate is also a ‘fitness doubt’ ahead of the clash against Man City, as the Frenchman ‘faces a battle’ to be fit with a minor muscle problem.
The Athletic reporter tweeted: “Konate is a fitness doubt for Man City game. Missed training on Friday. Muscle problem understood to be minor but faces a battle to be fit for Sunday afternoon.”
The Verdict: Another blow
It is yet another injury blow for Klopp and Liverpool going into a very difficult fixture, especially given that Matip is already out, while Alexander-Arnold is also a major doubt in the Reds’ backline.
Konate played a total of 29 times under the German last season and had just recovered from a knee injury to make a return to action against Arsenal last week.
Nonetheless, if both Matip and Alexander-Arnold are out as well, it means that Klopp will likely have to reshuffle his defence. Either Joe Gomez or James Milner may have to fill in at right-back, with rarely-seen Nat Phillips perhaps playing at centre-back in Konate’s absence.
Either way, the Frenchman’s latest injury problem is certainly not ideal, particularly with one Erling Haaland to face and some of the regular back four missing.
