Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has revealed that Ibrahima Konate missed a couple of training sessions ahead of his side's heavy defeat against PSV in the Champions League.
While Joe Gomez was fit enough to be involved, Slot decided to keep him on the bench and go with Konate, with the former Charlton Athletic player left in reserve as a back-up option. He was ultimately an unused substitute.
"[Gomez] is close," Slot said during his pre-West Ham United press conference. "He could have been involved yesterday for minutes but when we are two or three-one down, I tend to make offensive subs.
"For him to start is definitely a possibility. Konate didn't train two days before; he was a liability before the game, so it was a risk. I decided to keep him there in case Ibou was injured."
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike is a doubt for the weekend's trip to West Ham United, meanwhile, after he limped off. However, the Frenchman is not expected to be out for too long.
Alisson Becker, who missed the PSV game in the Champions League through illness, trained today, Slot confirmed, and Florian Wirtz could return to the group on Saturday after returning from international duty with a minor muscle complaint.
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(Image: Liverpoolfc.com)
Slot was also asked about his team lacking confidence at the moment, with Liverpool on a losing streak of three successive defeats by a three-goal margin; its worst run since 1953.
"I don't see it being low when we start games, and not even after the 1-0 yesterday," Slot said. "But after the fourth or fifth knock, I saw a difficult five or 10 minutes.
"Even at 2-1, there was disappointment but we were able to generate enough chances for 2-2.
"But at 3-1 I could see it hurt the players and that wasn't where the fighting spirit was at the best.
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"Is my message getting across? At 3-1 it's difficult to get it across but before and at half-time, I see how we create and a lot of it is in the meetings but it doesn't lead to goals.
"It is difficult for us all but the message comes across very clearly how we generate our chances. That is obvious."
Liverpool.com says: The West Ham game suddenly looks huge. Lose that in a similar manner to recent defeats and Slot will only find himself under more scrutiny. Nuno Espirito Santo got the better of him last season, but he cannot be allowed to do so again.