Ibrahima Konate's injury 'appears minor' amid Liverpool's defensive woes

The Reds began the season with a slim squad of four recognised centre-backs after missing out on Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi in the transfer window. 

That depth took a hit when 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni suffered an ACL tear on debut, leaving Arne Slot reliant on Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Konate as his primary senior options at the back.

Konate, a mainstay in every Premier League outing this term, was substituted after 56 minutes at Stamford Bridge. "I don't know if it's a big injury, but I do know that he limped," Slot remarked post-match. "I asked him, and he said he felt his quad a little bit. It might be okay as he went off early enough, but I had to take him off because he was limping."

Yet, the 26-year-old's swift integration into the France camp for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Iceland offers reassurance. Despite skipping Tuesday's group training session, opting instead for indoor work and medical treatment.

Konate has been spotted in good spirits, signing autographs alongside Kylian Mbappe and even sharing a light-hearted social media post with a mock Premier League trophy lift, cheekily aimed at Arsenal's William Saliba.

France coach Didier Deschamps has downplayed the issue, stating he expects Konate to feature during the break, while adding that "the players often arrive tired" after club duties. Teammate Saliba reinforced the optimism, describing it as "some minor injuries" and expressing confidence in a quick return.

An official update is anticipated ahead of Friday's clash with Azerbaijan.

The fact that Konate travelled, and has been seen engaging in light-hearted activities, suggests the injury is not severe, potentially allowing Liverpool to avoid a prolonged crisis. With Van Dijk and Gomez as solid anchors, Slot could rotate in Ryan Gravenberch (who filled in effectively against Chelsea) or even Wataru Endo and Andy Robertson if needed in the short term.

As the Reds aim to snap a three-game losing streak and steady Slot's early reign, the growing belief in Konate's imminent availability could provide a timely boost.

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