Ibrahima Konate has provided an update on his recovery from a knee injury.
The Liverpool center-back picked up the issue during the Reds' 2-0 triumph over Real Madrid at the end of last month. He was absent for the 2-0 win against Manchester City and the 3-3 draw with Newcastle United, and also missed Liverpool's Champions League victory in Girona. Arne Slot has already confirmed that the 25-year-old, along with Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas, is expected to be sidelined for several weeks, but he anticipates the trio will return to action by January.
As Joe Gomez fills in during his absence, Konate has given a glimpse into his recovery process via social media. On Tuesday, just hours before his Liverpool colleagues took on Girona in the Champions League, the defender shared a photo on Instagram of himself in his Liverpool training kit at the AXA Training Centre gym.
Konate had been a standout performer this season, impressing alongside Virgil van Dijk in the heart of Liverpool's defense. He had made 18 appearances, contributing to 10 clean sheets for Slot's side before his injury. While an exact return date remains uncertain as he has yet to resume training, it's undoubtedly a positive sign for Slot and the Reds to see the Frenchman continuing his rehabilitation.
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate in the gym at the AXA Training Centre
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate in the gym at the AXA Training Centre (Image: Instagram)
Liverpool will return to Premier League duties after arriving back from Spain, hosting Fulham at Anfield on Saturday. The Reds then set off for Southampton for the Carabao Cup quarter-finals the following Wednesday, before rounding off their pre-Christmas fixtures with an away game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, December 22.
Liverpool.com says: Konate does tend to get injuries but Slot will hope that Gomez and Jarell Quansah can fill in for him while he recovers. The main problem is not that Konate is missing but that Kostas Tsimikas and Conor Bradley are also out at the same time. Getting some more defensive cover back as soon as possible could make a big difference.