Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate Exits France Squad Due to Minor Thigh Injury According to The Athletic
Liverpool’s centre-back Ibrahima Konate has exited the France squad due to a minor thigh injury, as reported by The Athletic. This minor setback comes at a critical time as France prepares for their World Cup qualifying match against Iceland on Monday.
Konate’s Recent Injury History
The injury was initially sustained during Liverpool’s match against Chelsea on October 4, which ended in a 2-1 defeat. Konate was an unused substitute in France’s recent match against Azerbaijan, which ended with a 3-0 victory for France. This suggests ongoing concerns about his fitness.
Adjustments in France Squad
Following Konate’s withdrawal, the French national team has called up Benjamin Pavard to fill his spot. Pavard, who is currently on loan at Marseille from Inter Milan, will join the squad in Reykjavik for their upcoming fixture.
Liverpool’s Defensive Concerns
Liverpool is already dealing with injuries in their defensive lineup. Giovanni Leoni, a recent signing, is out for the season due to an ACL injury. Additionally, goalkeeper Alisson is sidelined with a hamstring injury until at least November.
As it stands, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are Liverpool’s only available centre-back options. This situation could impact Liverpool’s performance against Manchester United on October 19, especially if Konate remains unavailable.
Recent Performances
- Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch played full matches in the Netherlands’ 4-0 win over Malta.
- Jeremie Frimpong and Cody Gakpo contributed significantly, playing 67 and 84 minutes, respectively.
Liverpool’s management remains hopeful that Konate’s thigh injury is minor, aiming for his swift return to action soon. Emegypt will continue to follow this story closely as it evolves.
