Jurgen Klopp has disclosed that Ibrahima Konate has a good opportunity to return from injury in time for Liverpool’s visit to Manchester United next weekend.
Konate was taken off because of a thigh injury in the second half of Liverpool’s Europa League victory at Sparta Prague last Thursday.
As a result, the center-back missed Sunday’s significant match against Manchester City at Anfield, although fortunately for Klopp and co. youngster Jarell Quansah stepped up to help earn his side a point.
There were concerns that Konate’s injury could be very serious and yet another huge setback for the Reds who have been greatly affected by injuries recently as they strive to win an unprecedented ‘quadruple’.
That journey continues next Sunday when they go to bitter rivals United for an FA Cup quarter-final match.
It’s their last game before the March international break and Klopp has now confirmed that there is a strong possibility that the Frenchman will play at Old Trafford.
Asked in his post-match press conference if Konate’s injury was serious, the manager replied: ‘No, no. Ibou has a chance for United. A good chance.’
This is a huge boost for Liverpool who have many key players sidelined including Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
‘We need the players back. All the stories we created with the kids and stuff are wonderful, wonderful, I couldn’t be happier about that, but of course we fight for the biggest prize in football,’ Klopp added.
‘Today, Ibou Konate is out then we start all three of our other centre-halves and if one goes down and we play in the next six days two games with two centre-halves who play all the time.
‘All these kind of things are really tricky but we came through it, and that’s why I said we played really good football in that time and we were fortunate in moments: winning late, fighting hard, 99th minute and 118th minute and stuff like this.
‘We don’t take that for granted but today the performance was really like, “One or two players back, we can change like we changed, oh yeah, that is cool”. and that is why I am really happy about that today.
‘Plus, what that means for the next game I have no idea, I don’t even know a little bit about the situation [and] if anybody feels more than tired. I didn’t ask yet, but it is just good information for me, that we can play like that. I’m really happy about that and now let’s see what we can do from here.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
.
