Ibrahima Konate. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
Ibrahima Konate. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ibrahima Konate training absence explained as Liverpool face Marseille in the Champions League.
Ibrahima Konate is doubtful for Liverpool’s Champions League clash against Marseille.
The defender did not train with the Reds this afternoon ahead of travelling to the Stade Velodrome for Wednesday’s encounter. Konate has started every Premier League and Champions League game so far this campaign, most recently last Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Burnley at Anfield.
Per The Athletic reporter James Pearce, Konate has not suffered an injury. He has returned to France for family reasons although he could be unavailable against Marseille. Pearce posted on X: “Ibrahima Konate back in France for family reasons. Remains to be seen whether he links up with the squad in Marseille.”
Head coach Arne Slot will likely give an update on Konate when he speaks at his pre-match press conference later. Should the 26-year-old be unable to feature, it will leave Liverpool without four defenders against Marseille.
Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni will not play again this season after suffering respective knee injuries. Meanwhile, Calvin Ramsay is ruled out of the Marseille encounter. The 22-year-old has been on the bench for the previous seven games in the Premier League and FA Cup.
However, Ramsay has not been registered in Liverpool’s UEFA squad for the league phase of the Champions League. Ramsay was not included in the Reds’ List A and does not qualify for List B as he is over 21.
Liverpool are ninth in the Champions League standings and a win will bolster their chances of a top-eight finish and automatically qualifying for the last 16 of the competition.
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