Journalist James Pearce doesn’t expect Ibou Konaté to return for Liverpool over the next month. His injury is a problem.
Liverpool certainly have some injury issues right now. Thiago’s problem against Fulham keeps him out for the next little while, with Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also out in midfield. Thankfully, Naby Keita has returned after missing the Fulham game with illness.
But injuries in defence also provide cause for concern. Joel Matip is the latest issue, joining Ibou Konaté on the absentee list.
Konaté picked up an injury in Liverpool’s final pre-season friendly – a game that was supposed to purely be about fitness. Unfortunately, it has the opposite effect on the Frenchman and it sounds as though he’s still going to be out for some time.
James Pearce gave his impression in a Q&A for the Athletic this week. Konaté, it seems, doesn’t have a particularly clear return date.
“Thiago absence [is] expected to be 4 to 6 weeks from Fulham game,” wrote Pearce. “Konaté [is] less clear but I think he’ll do well to be back playing before the September international break.”
Ibou Konaté has unclear return date
That international break comes after the 18th of September, meaning Konaté is likely to miss vital games. There’s Manchester United next week, of course, and both Everton and Chelsea away come before that break.
Those are three of Liverpool’s biggest fixtures in any season. Not having Konaté for them is a massive problem, then, especially with Matip’s questionable fitness. It puts a lot of pressure on Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk – two players who were returning from serious knee injuries only a year ago.
But this is why you keep quality players in reserve. Liverpool are battling injuries but can still comfortably put out strong squads – for now. We could really do without another crisis as we saw in 2020.
Fingers crossed that Gomez and Van Dijk can keep fit for at least the next month.
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