Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate’s injury may not actually be as bad as first feared

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Despite their incredible performance this season under Arne Slot, it has not all be good news for Liverpool recently.

The Reds have shot to the top of the Premier League and look set for a sustained title challenge after beating Manchester City on Sunday.

However, with more tricky fixtures on the horizon for Liverpool, they have also started to rack up some fitness problems.

Up until this point, the Liverpool squad has managed any injury issues thrown at it superbly well.

But with the festive period almost upon us, it is not ideal to have the likes of Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley missing.

Konate in particular is a big blow, with the centre-back initially expected to be out until the start of the New Year. But giving an update on the Frenchman on Monday, journalist David Lynch suggested that Liverpool’s No.5 may be back before that.

December return possible for Ibrahima Konate

Liverpool coped exceptionally well without Konate against Man City on Sunday.

There had been some concerns that Joe Gomez may be coming in a little too much from the col when facing the league’s most lethal striker in Erling Haaland.

But with Virgil van Dijk putting in a sensational display alongside him, Gomez ensured that Haaland didn’t get a sniff at Anfield. Jarell Quansah even came on for a surprise cameo at right-back.

Nevertheless, Liverpool will still want Konate back as soon as possible. And speaking to Anfield Agenda, Lynch claimed that there still could be a chance to see the 25-year-old play again in December.

READ MORE: The three words Liverpool players were saying in the dressing room after beating Man City

“Konate, we’re not quite so sure. I wouldn’t rule him out maybe making an appearance in December, I don’t think that’s completely ruled out, so we’ll have to see,” says the journalist.

“As Slot continues to say, it’s kind of one of those where you get to the final stages of the recovery and it’s quite hard to judge. But I don’t think Konate’s maybe as long as has been said, so that would be good.”

What about Conor Bradley?

While Lynch delivered some positive news on Konate, he also confirmed the worst about Bradley.

As Rousing The Kop exclusively revealed last Thursday, Bradley is set to miss more than a month of action for Liverpool.

And confirming that news, Lynch reported that the 21-year-old will not play again until 2025.

“Bradley’s looking not great, as in probably the other side of New Year we’re looking at,” he said. “Fairly severe-ish hamstring injury.”

Disappointing news for Bradley who was just starting to come into his own. As Quansah surprisingly showed on Sunday, though, Slot does still have some tricks up his sleeve for right-back.