Jurgen Klopp could be set to drop Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool’s starting XI to face Wolves in the FA Cup tomorrow.
Konate played his first football since the World Cup final on Monday, starting at centre-back as Liverpool lost 3-1 to Brentford. But as per The Evening Standard, the 23-year-old might not keep his place in the side.
Ibou had a personal nightmare at the Brentford Community Stadium – scoring an own goal and being directly responsible for the Bees third.
And as a result of that ‘torrid’ display, the Standard claim that Klopp may take him out of the side.
With Virgil van Dijk injured, that would likely mean a starting duo of Joel Matip and Joe Gomez. With one less centre-back now available to call on though, perhaps Klopp will avoid such a risk and opt with Nat Phillips instead.
Elsewhere in team news, the Standard suggest that both Jordan Henderson and James Milner are back in contention to play. Andy Robertson is said to be fit to start after featuring from the bench on Monday, while Stefan Bajcetic is a ‘candidate’ to play.
Konate set to bounce back from Brentford troubles
You can see the logic of taking Konate out of the side following Monday’s debacle. It was probably the Frenchman’s worst ever display in a Liverpool shirt.
But after news of Van Dijk’s injury, maybe it’s more beneficial to get games in Ibou’s legs.
By this, the half-way point of the season, the France star has played just five games in all competitions. Now having to step up without his more senior colleague, Liverpool need him to be as ready as he can be.
As a result, it would seem counterproductive to take him out of the side now. Instead, he needs to get a run of games together to feel his way back into regular football.
As a young player, removing him from the XI after just one poor game may also shatter his confidence. Plenty of Reds player’s have been poor for large spells this season and have still continued in the team.
To give the reverse treatment to a player who has been exceptional for Liverpool since his £35m move would be really unfair. If Klopp is going to drop him, it should be because we need him more for Brighton the following week. That said, Ibou has to improve from Monday. It wasn’t good enough. Get it out the system and go again.
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