There aren’t many more likeable Liverpool players than Ibrahima Konate.

The defender is one of the bubblier members of Arne Slot’s squad, and his charisma was on show as he spoke to the press ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Lille. Konate laughed and joked with the assembled media as he turned what can often be a somewhat dull affair into an entertaining watch, while giving them plenty to discuss with his comments on his return from injury and his contract situation.

The former of those subjects will have enhanced his reputation among Liverpool fans, with Konate admitting he rushed his return from injury this month in order to help the Reds out in their hour of need after Joe Gomez limped off the pitch at West Ham.

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"I tried to come back 100 percent, but I am not because I rushed my comeback with my knee," Konate said. "I've done this for my team and I can die for this team. My knee will come back 100 percent very soon, it's fine. I still have pain. I play with painkillers and it's enough for me to play. I don't have to think about this, I just have to play and this will go away."

Expanding on his surprise return against Manchester United earlier this month, Konate said: "I was very close to coming back anyway. The plan was for me to train in this week [leading up to the United game], then when I saw Joe with this injury I was like 'OK, I have to come back quickly and not think about my knee.'”

That’s the sort of determination fans love - a player willing to put their body on the line for their team. At the same time though, given the source of those comments, it is a concern.

Konate insisted he wasn’t worried about having to play through the pain, but no doubt there will be more than a few Liverpool fans fearing the worst. We’ve seen the Frenchman break down on more than a few occasions since he joined the club, and he wouldn’t have exactly eased any concerns during his press conference - you could tell just from the amount of times the reporters went back to the subject after his original answer.

Simply put, Liverpool cannot afford to lose Konate again this season. He is undoubtedly part of the Reds’ strongest side, having formed such a formidable partnership with Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defense, and losing him during the business end of a title race would be a huge blow.

With Gomez not set to return for at least another few weeks, and Jarell Quansah not exactly exuding confidence when he’s played this season, it does feel like the title depends on Konate staying fit for the remainder of the campaign, which is a big gamble to take.

Liverpool therefore surely has no other option now then to dip into the January transfer market and find a new defender to ease those worries supporters will no doubt have. At this stage, it doesn’t look like FSG will be splashing any cash this month, but they can’t really afford not to now.

Jamie Carragher has said as much after urging the club’s owners to get their checkbook out before the end of the month. If nothing else, it has to be done now just to ease the burden on Konate, and hopefully get him to a stage where he doesn’t need those painkillers.