Liverpool Eyes Major Player Return to Spark Man Utd Showdown
Liverpool remain hopeful that central defender Ibrahima Konaté will recover in time to feature against Manchester United when domestic football resumes next weekend, according to recent reports.
Konaté sustained an injury during the 2–1 loss to Chelsea prior to the international break but still joined up with the France national team, where he underwent assessment for a week before officials decided to send him back to Liverpool for additional medical care.
With United set to visit Anfield on Oct. 19, Konaté is in a clear race against the clock to regain fitness, though The Athletic reports there is optimism within Liverpool that the defender could be available for selection.
Liverpool believe Konaté's problem is relatively minor and won't require an extended period away from action, contrasting with the knee problem that sidelined him for more than a month during the previous campaign.
Despite questions surrounding Konaté's recent performances amid speculation linking him with Real Madrid for a potential free transfer next summer, the France defender continues to be an important figure for head coach Arne Slot, whose backline choices are presently restricted.
Liverpool Facing Potential Injury Crisis in Defence
If Konaté fails to recover in time for the United clash, Virgil van Dijk will likely be paired at centre-back with the squad's only remaining natural option, Joe Gomez.
The Merseyside club are already missing Italy defender Giovanni Leoni, who faces the prospect of sitting out the entire campaign after sustaining an ACL injury during his debut appearance for the team.
Whether Gomez would receive the starting opportunity remains uncertain. Slot chose not to turn to the English defender as Konaté's replacement against Chelsea, instead moving midfielder Ryan Gravenberch into a central defensive position alongside his Dutch compatriot Van Dijk.
Defensive midfielder Wataru Endo, who can also operate in defence, was compelled to pull out of the Japan squad due to injury, though the extent of his problem has not been disclosed.
Liverpool face mounting pressure following a sequence of three consecutive losses before the international break and will be eager to respond positively against their greatest adversaries on Sunday. Previous manager Jürgen Klopp has urged for patience, maintaining that the team's recent poor form should not cause alarm.