Jurgen Klopp expects Ibrahima Konate to miss out on Liverpool’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester United but has been boosted by Ryan Gravenberch’s return to training.
Konate has not been seen since he was withdrawn midway through Liverpool’s first-leg Europa League tie with Sparta Prague last week.
The Frenchman missed his side’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City last weekend as well as the Europa League second leg on Thursday and is still yet to return to training ahead of Sunday’s clash.
‘Konate hasn’t trained today, we’ll have to see if he can train tomorrow. A tight, tight race that we will probably lose,’ the German revealed at his pre-match press conference.
Youngster Bobby Clark could well miss out after picking up a knock late on in midweek but Liverpool can welcome back Gravenberch who has missed the last five games after being stretchered off in the Carabao Cup final.
Asked about the central midfielder’s fitness, Klopp responded: ‘Gravenberch trained today so he is ready.’
Liverpool continue to manage with depleted numbers after a slew of injuries to key players but Klopp was hopeful he will be able to welcome back some familiar names for the game against Brighton after the international break.
‘Curtis Jones [has a chance for the Brighton] then Diogo [Jota] and Trent [Alexander-Arnold the week after, they have a chance,’ he added.
‘Stefan Bajcetic feels something but it’s not injuries, it’s intensity. We don’t want to use him before he’s really ready.
‘His body was not really ready for the intensity. He is in a much better place now but we have to wait. Part of team training after the international break.’
Liverpool will look to keep alive their hopes of a quadruple in Klopp’s final season when they face United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Having romped to a commanding 11-2 aggregate victory against Sparta Prague, the Merseyside club now face a Europa League quarter-final clash against Atalanta.
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