The Liverpool defender was not named in the starting line-up for the Champions League match against Marseille, and it's been the first European or league match Konate has not started this season
19:44, 21 Jan 2026
Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool
Ibrahima Konate is out for Marseille vs. Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
As expected, Ibrahima Konate has missed Liverpool’s Champions League encounter against Marseille on Wednesday.
The defender’s participation was severely in doubt after he missed Tuesday’s training session at the AXA Training Centre and was not named in the travelling squad. Konate was actually already in France to deal with a family matter, and the club was careful not to completely rule him out of the Champions League encounter.
“Ibou didn’t travel with us because of family matters. I will speak at that. I will speak to him tomorrow again. I will leave it with that,” said Arne Slot during his pre-match press conference.
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It was presumed Konate would not be back in time for the match, and that was confirmed when the starting line-ups were announced 75 minutes before kick-off at the Velodrome.
It is the first Champions League or Premier League match that Konate has not started this season, and his partnership with Virgil van Dijk at the heart of defense has been one of the team’s most stable elements.
In Konate’s place, Joe Gomez starts in central defense, but the Reds do not have any further center-backs on the bench.
"For the family matters why he is not here, that is really sad for him," Slot told TNT Sports ahead of the game, when asked about Konate's absence.
"Second of all, we miss him. I mainly played him. Joe is a very good replacement but has not played in the one and half years I was here, for obvious reasons. But is a great game for him to play; he has played not a lot this season.
Ibrahima Konate
Konate missed the midweek trip to Marseille(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Slot has previously played Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, and Andy Robertson in that role, although none have looked particularly comfortable.
Indeed, center-back will likely dominate the Liverpool agenda heading into the summer transfer window.
Konate’s contract is set to expire in July and, despite over a year of negotiations, no solution has materialized. At this stage, he looks set to move on.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 12: Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, looks on prior to the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Barnsley on January 12, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Centre-back is expected to be a major area to address in the transfer window(Image: Getty Images)
Gomez could also call time on his 11-year stint on Merseyside, while there are no guarantees Giovanni Leoni will be fit for the start of the 2026/27 campaign following his ACL injury.
Virgil van Dijk will have just a year remaining on his contract in the summer.
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As for Liverpool on Wednesday, it needs to take all three points in Marseille as it hunts down a top-eight finish in the Champions League league phase.
A win would see the Reds move into the automatic Champions League qualification places ahead of next week’s final match of the league phase, when Slot’s side hosts Qarabag.