Klopp offers Konate injury timeline update after defender missed City draw

Ibrahima Konate was forced off with injury during the second half of Liverpool’s 5-1 Europa League last-16, first-leg victory against Sparta Prague on Thursday night. 

The Frenchman was replaced by Virgil van Dijk during the game with attention immediately turning to whether he’d be fit for the crucial top-of-the-table clash against Manchester City on Sunday. 

Manager Jurgen Klopp could not give a definitive answer over Konate’s fitness on Friday but the signs were not positive when the Liverpool squad emerged for the Premier League fixture at Anfield. 

Konate was pictured alongside two of Liverpool’s injured stars, Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold, and not with the squad departing the team bus. 

Fears over the 24-year-old’s fitness were confirmed when the team news landed an hour before kickoff. 

Alongside Van Dijk in the heart of defence was Jarell Quansah with Konate not fit enough to make the matchday squad. 

Liverpool coped well with the absence of the former RB Leipzig man, drawing 1-1, and were unlucky not to get more having been denied a late penalty. 

With the Reds aiming for four trophies, they can ill afford any more big-name injury absentees. 

The France international has played only 85 times throughout his near three-year spell at Anfield and Klopp could do without another prolonged absence as his side hunt for the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League to go along with their Carabao Cup title. 

Another massive tie looms next weekend with a trip to Old Trafford on the horizon with Liverpool facing Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter finals. 

And, at the conclusion of the controversial draw with City, Klopp had some good news about Konate. 

Konate could be back for Man Utd FA Cup tie

“Ibou has a chance for United,” Klopp told his post-match press conference when quizzed on Konate’s current status. “A good chance.”

It means the £36 million centre back will miss the second leg of the Sparta tie midweek before coming back into the team on Sunday. 

Amad Nallo, a 17-year-old defender, was on the bench for the City game, highlighting the fitness crisis still engulfing the club. 

“Our injury situation is still awful, 11 players still unavailable. It’s crazy,” continued Klopp. “We need players back. All the stories we created with the kids are wonderful, couldn’t be happier. 

“But we fight for the biggest prize in football. Ibou Konate is out, we start all three others, if one goes down, we are down to two centre-backs. 

“But we came through it. We played really good football in that time, fighting hard. We don’t take that for granted. One or two players back, we can change.”