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Extent of Ibrahima Konate injury revealed as Arne Slot handed Liverpool decision

Darwin Nunez and Ibrahima Konate during a Liverpool training session
-Credit: (Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)


Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has shown off his wrist protection as he battles to be in contention to face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. The Frenchman sparked injury concerns after he was forced off during the half-time break of the Reds' 2-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Konate went down as he looked to attack a Liverpool corner but went to ground with a suspected arm problem, when he was accidentally stood on by captain Virgil van Dijk. On Sunday, the 25-year-old moved to dispel concerns over his availability for the Reds as they prepare to take on the German champions on Tuesday, before Aston Villa visit Anfield at the weekend.

The centre-back trained with the squad on Monday morning and was seen going through his paces after scans revealed he had avoided a serious injury. The official Liverpool X account posted a picture of Konate with his wrist protection in the gym ahead of the Reds' open training session.

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Initially, head coach Arne Slot was unsure over the severity of the issue, admitting on Saturday: "We don't know yet. He had a lot of pain, but he hasn't been to the hospital yet - and maybe it is not even necessary to go to the hospital, I don't know.

"It is always difficult to judge an injury in the first hour or first 10 minutes after it happens. Let's hope he can be with us as soon as possible because he had a big impact on our season until now."

It is a race against time for Konate to be fit to face Xabi Alonso's side with Liverpool looking to preserve their 100 per cent record in the new look Champions League. Speaking after the win on Saturday, Van Dijk said: "We call it the jungle when we go in set-pieces because there are so many bodies out there.

"Unfortunately I caught him, I landed on his arm so that’s obviously quite a heavy leg that comes on your arm. It was very painful so he had to come off unfortunately."

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