Arne Slot don confirm say Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate come out for match against Chelsea because of injury.
The Reds collect their third straight defeat on Saturday afternoon as dem lose 2-1 for Stamford Bridge, and the loss don reduce their Premier League hopes small as dem go into international break for second position.
But wetin even worry Liverpool fans pass the defeat na the injury to Konate. The French centre-back come out just before the one-hour mark, and Ryan Gravenberch drop back to play for defence after am.
After the match for London, Slot yarn for press conference say him never sabi how bad the injury be, but him hope say e no too serious.
For him words: “I no know if e big like that, but I notice say him dey limp small and when I ask am, he talk say he feel something for him quad muscle.”
Slot continue: “Immediately I hear that, my alarm bells ring. Because if e try sprint again, e fit go worse. I even don plan to sub am soon, because the right centre-back get plenty ball for leg and we need person wey fit create from that position.
We all sabi say Ryan [Gravenberch] good for that kind play. Maybe e good say Konate come out early, but e clear say I gats remove am because e dey limp.”
Konate don suffer plenty injuries since him join Liverpool, and if this one serious, e fit affect the team badly, especially as Giovanni Leoni don already rule out for the rest of the season.
Which Matches Konate Fit Miss for Liverpool?
Luckily for Liverpool, the October international break mean say Konate no go miss too many matches. Their next game na October 19 when dem go host rivals Manchester United for Anfield, before dem travel go Germany face Eintracht Frankfurt for Champions League on October 22.
If the injury no serious, e fit recover within one or two weeks. But if na partial muscle tear, dem fit sideline am for three to six weeks.
And if na complete quadriceps tear, that one fit need surgery — meaning months for treatment table. Slot go dey pray say the early substitution save am from that kind long wahala.
Premier League Title Race: How Arne Slot Go Take Manage This Wahala?
Slot don dey try new setups lately, sometimes moving Gravenberch go defence when dem dey chase goal or wan turn draw to win. Even though e be bold move, e still show how the coach dey manage limited defensive options.
Konate na key player last season when Liverpool win the Premier League title. But this season, without Trent Alexander-Arnold by him right side, e don struggle small to build play from back.
That weakness don show for their buildup play and affect attackers like Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo, wey no dey get enough service from deep areas.
Still, make Liverpool no panic. Dem just one point behind Arsenal for table.
Arne Slot get plenty things to fix — from defensive balance to attacking flow — but e must stay calm and no overreact. This international break go give am small time to reset before dem face United and Frankfurt.
