Twenty-one Liverpool players trained as the Reds prepared for their Champions League match in Marseille without Ibrahima Konate.
While Mo Salah‘s return was a welcome sight in Kirkby, Konate was absent from training on Tuesday, leaving Liverpool with just two senior centre-halves in the squad.
Journalist James Pearce reported that the Frenchman is back in his home country for family reasons and it “remains to be seen” whether he will join up with the squad on Wednesday.
Liverpool team news: 21-man squad training before Marseille
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, January 20, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman
Defenders: Van Dijk, Gomez, Frimpong, Kerkez, Robertson, Ramsay*
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones, Endo, Nyoni
Forwards: Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike, Gakpo, Chiesa, Ngumoha
*not registered to play in Champions League
While Konate’s performances haven’t always been up to scratch, Konate has started every Premier League and Champions League match alongside Virgil van Dijk this season.
If he can’t feature against Marseille, Joe Gomez should start next to the captain in defence, with Jeremie Frimpong at right-back due to Conor Bradley‘s injury.
After Liverpool lost out on signing Marc Guehi on transfer deadline day in the summer, Giovanni Leoni‘s ACL injury early in the season has left Liverpool very short of central defenders.
If Gomez or Van Dijk were to drop out for any reason, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo would be the next contenders to start in defence, while Andy Robertson could also be an emergency option.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, January 20, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, January 20, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, January 20, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
Konate’s potential absence against Marseille is a blow, but Liverpool’s attacking ranks have enjoyed a boost thanks to the return of Salah.
Since the Egyptian left for AFCON, Liverpool have played seven games.
In the same time period, Salah played six full matches, as well as 30 minutes of extra time in the round of 16, as Egypt came fourth at the tournament.
More to follow…