Liverpool don enter serious wahala for defence this season. Dem no too get enough central defenders before the campaign even start, and now the thing don turn crisis level.
Their failure to sign Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace before transfer window close don backfire badly. The Reds start the season with only four centre-backs — one of dem na 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni, wey unfortunately tear him ACL for him debut match. That injury leave Liverpool with just three fit centre-backs.
As if that one no pain reach, after coach Arne Slot lose three matches back-to-back for the first time since he arrive Liverpool, wahala come increase again. Ibrahima Konaté come pick up one quad injury after just 56 minutes for their defeat against Chelsea.
Now, Liverpool fans dey pray say the injury no serious because with their current form and squad issues, another defensive problem fit scatter their season totally.
When Ibrahima Konaté Fit Return From Injury?
Konaté don start every Premier League match this season before the injury hit am. After the Chelsea game, Arne Slot talk say:
“I don’t know if it’s a big injury, but I do know that he limped. I asked him, and he said, ‘I feel my quad a little bit’. So it might be okay, but I had to take him off because he was limping.”
Despite the injury scare, Konaté still report for duty with the France national team ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Iceland. But even though he show up, reports talk say he no train with the squad on Tuesday evening due to fitness concerns.
Instead, Konaté and Kylian Mbappé (wey also dey rest) spend time signing autographs for fans. France coach Didier Deschamps talk say he no get “any additional information” about the fitness of his players yet but go reveal more before Friday’s game.
From wetin we see, the fact say Konaté still join the French camp mean the injury no too serious. But if he risk playing during the break, Liverpool go dey very worried say e fit worsen the muscle problem.
Who Fit Replace Ibrahima Konaté for Liverpool Defence?
If Konaté join Leoni for injury list, Liverpool go remain with only Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez as senior centre-backs. Gomez na the only orthodox alternative wey dey right now.
But the problem be say, Gomez never too click under Arne Slot. He still dey struggle for consistent playing time, and him own injury history no too encourage confidence. So far this season, he don play only three matches and total of 119 minutes across all competitions.
For their last match, Slot even try use Ryan Gravenberch as makeshift defender after Konaté come out. But make we talk true — Gravenberch no be long-term solution for defence. Same thing with Wataru Endo, wey Slot don sometimes test as backup centre-back but no be natural fit for that role.
Another emergency option fit be Andy Robertson, though Liverpool go prefer make their main defenders dey available. Even though Konaté never too impress this season, him presence still important for stability at the back.
Konaté’s Future and What Next for Liverpool
There still dey small concern say Konaté fit join Real Madrid on a free transfer next summer if things no clear up fast. But for now, Liverpool priority na to make sure say him quad injury no turn long-term issue.
With the Premier League and European fixtures piling up, Arne Slot need all the defensive help he fit get. If Konaté recover quick, e go be big relief for both the coach and the fans.
For now, the hope be say the injury go heal before France’s second qualifier, and make the Frenchman return to Anfield fit and ready to stabilize Liverpool backline once again.
