Slot Reveals Key Injury News on Konate and Wirtz Following Liverpool's Triumphant Win

Liverpool secured a victory over Arsenal at Anfield, marking their third consecutive Premier League win to start the campaign, though injury worries emerged from the match as both Ibrahima Konaté and Florian Wirtz required medical attention and were withdrawn during the second half.

The pair were taken off in the 79th and 89th minutes respectively, although manager Arne Slot believes neither injury is cause for significant alarm.

"He believes it's cramping and I see no reason to question that assessment, though sometimes players claim it's just cramp and our scans reveal something more serious," Slot commented regarding Konaté. However, he expressed more caution about the Frenchman compared to his assessment of Wirtz.

"Jeremie Frimpong was displeased, much like certain pundits and media members, when I substituted him during the Bournemouth match because he believed it was merely cramping, or just a minor issue, and now he's sidelined for two to three weeks. We'll have to wait and see what develops."

Regarding Wirtz, "This wasn't an injury - it was his introduction to Premier League football! After 85 minutes, I believe he discovered he could experience cramping in numerous areas of his body, and that's exactly what occurred. That's his welcome to the Premier League, that's his introduction to competing at this level of intensity against an Arsenal side that can also play with tremendous vigor."

While the German playmaker is anticipated to be a regular starter for the foreseeable future, Konaté's situation has faced intense speculation during this summer's transfer period due to rumors of a potential free move to Real Madrid next summer, with his current deal set to expire in 2026. Should the Frenchman face any absence, the transfer target Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace could become even more crucial to Slot's strategy this campaign if a deal materializes.

Liverpool lack the squad depth they possessed in recent seasons, especially in defensive positions, heading into the new term. Dominik Szoboszlai stepped in for the injured Frimpong in back-to-back matches at right-back. The Hungarian proved to be the decisive factor on the day, netting an excellent strike to defeat Arsenal at Anfield. Left-back Kostas Tsimikas also finalized a loan switch to Roma following the contest.

Liverpool have a fortnight to restore everyone to peak condition with the September international window approaching next.