Liverpool’s growing injury list shows no sign of slowing, with Ibrahima Konaté the latest to join the treatment room after their 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.
Manager Arne Slot confirmed after the match that the defender was taken off as a precaution after feeling discomfort in his thigh. “I don’t know if it is a big injury, but what I do know is he limped a little bit and when I asked him he said he felt his quad a little bit,” Slot said.
“Then, for me, all alarm bells go off because in another sprint you never know if that is going to go good. It might be OK that he went off early enough but it was clear I had to take him off because he was limping.”
The Dutchman admitted the substitution had been planned even before the incident, explaining that he wanted to create more from the right side of defence. “It was also already a substitution I had in mind, maybe for a few minutes or a little bit later, because the right centre-back had a lot of ball possession and we needed to create from that position. We all know Ryan is quite good in that,” Slot said.
The injury to Konaté comes at a difficult time for Liverpool who lost their third game of the week. Alisson Becker is already sidelined with a hip problem expected to keep him out until mid-November, leaving Liverpool short of their two most dependable defensive figures.
The absence of their goalkeeper is particularly damaging, with his performances having directly saved several points already this season.
Slot’s defensive options were thin even before this latest setback. Summer signing Giovanni Leoni, who joined for €31 million, has already been ruled out for the season after suffering a cruciate injury.
The situation leaves Liverpool increasingly reliant on makeshift solutions and highlights the difference between their current predicament and last season, when they managed to keep key players largely fit throughout their title run.
The contrast with Arsenal could hardly be clearer. While Mikel Arteta’s side continue to battle through their own run of injury issues, their depth all over the pitch has at least softened the blow.
Martin Ødegaard has been substituted with an injury in each of his last three home games, Bukayo Saka has completed 90 minutes only twice this season, and Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Piero Hincapié remain unavailable. Declan Rice went off against West Ham with a back problem, while Christian Nørgaard, Noni Madueke, and William Saliba have all faced setbacks. Arsenal have barely noticed and the pundits certainly haven’t.
Liverpool, by contrast, look stretched in areas where they once had strength. Slot’s insistence that Konaté’s withdrawal was “a precaution” will bring little comfort to supporters who have seen a once rock-solid defence slowly unravel.
Konaté’s performances this season have been inconsistent, and some fans may not mourn his short-term absence. But with limited alternatives and crucial fixtures ahead, the timing could hardly be worse.
Liverpool face Man United at Anfield in the first match after the international break before trips to Frankfurt and Brentford, followed by a game against their nemesis – Crystal Palace – to see out October.