Liverpool return to European action on January 21, travelling to Marseille for an 8pm kick-off.
The Reds’ last Champions League outing saw them earn a 1-0 win over Inter Milan.
However, their spot in the top eight is still not guaranteed. They are currently sitting ninth in the table before the midweek action gets underway, with a win very much needed.
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Liverpool go into this meeting 12 games unbeaten across all competitions, but their performances have been indifferent.
Meanwhile, they could now end up being without Ibrahima Konate for the tie.
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The Reds are 2/2 at the Stade Vélodrome 👀
Florian Wirtz for Liverpool
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Ibrahima Konate in France for personal reasons
Journalist James Pearce attended the AXA for the open training session on Tuesday afternoon before the squad take a short flight to France.
Mohamed Salah, after his AFCON exit at the hands of Sadio Mane’s Senegal, was spotted back in training.
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However, Pearce has now shared on X/Twitter that Konate is currently in his home country for family reasons.
He wrote: “Ibrahima Konate back in France for family reasons. Remains to be seen whether he links up with the squad in Marseille.”
The exact reason for his absence is not known, but let’s hope all is well for the centre-back.
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Liverpool registered an emphatic 4-0 win 💪
Liverpool vs Marseille
Liverpool vs Marseille 2007
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Who could replace Ibrahima Konate in Liverpool’s backline vs Marseille
With Giovanni Leoni out for the season, the Merseyside outfit are short of centre-back options right now.
If Konate misses the fixture, the most likely replacement, as long as he is fit, is Joe Gomez.
That will, however, mean there is no natural first-team cover for Jeremie Frimpong in the right-back role.
Aside from Gomez, we have seen Wataru Endo, who recently returned from injury, used out of position at centre-back in the past.
The Japan international played 90 minutes at the heart of the back-four earlier this season when Liverpool were beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.
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