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Ibrahima Konate breaks silence on injury as Liverpool learns extent of problem

chris mckenna & james findlater
·2-min read
Ibrahima Konate was forced off at half-time of Liverpool's win over Brighton
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


Ibrahima Konate has confirmed he will be available for Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.

The defender looked to be a major doubt when he was forced off at half-time of the Reds’ 2-1 win over Brighton on Saturday. Konate was replaced by Joe Gomez after falling awkwardly during a corner, with Virgil van Dijk then accidentally treading on his arm.

"There were so many bodies around the ball and I think I hit him on his arm," Van Dijk said. "Hopefully it is not too bad, we'll just have to wait and see. You can be quite ok as a player with an arm injury so hopefully he will be fine."

Liverpool boss Arne Slot added: "He was in a lot of pain at half-time. Disappointed he had to go off. He's not been to hospital yet. He may not even have to go; it's always too early to say just after the game."

The Frenchman left the pitch holding his arm in a makeshift sling using his shirt, raising fears that he may have broken or fractured it. That would have left him out of action not only for Tuesday’s game at Anfield, but for some considerable time afterward.

Fortunately though, Konate has now confirmed he has undergone a scan, and revealed he will be available to face Leverkusen.

“Thanks for all the messages of support,” Konate wrote on Instagram. “My injury isn’t serious thankfully. I had a scan today and it confirmed there is no break. I’ll be ready for the next game.”

Slot though does look set to be without four players again. Alisson Becker, Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota were all missing at the weekend again, with none of them expected to return before this month’s international break.

Liverpool.com says: That’s certainly good news for Liverpool. Whenever you see Konate going off injured, you do fear the worst given his record, although this one was clearly different to his previous problems.

Hopefully he can play a part against Leverkusen, although given Joe Gomez’s performance on Saturday, there won’t be too many worries about the England international stepping in. Fingers crossed we don’t get any more injury scares now before the end of the year.