Football
Arne Slot its Liverpool Star Is Unlikely To Play In Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg Against Tottenham
After graduating from Kingston University with an upper second-class Honours degree, I learned the ropes in sports journalism starting at Sports Mole before making my way through the ranks at the MailOnline. I started initially as a freelancer before going on to become an assistant sports editor in seven years at the company. Love football, cursed by Spurs and you can catch me watching/falling asleep to the F1 while hungover on a Sunday.
Get to know Sam McEvoy betterPublished06 Jan 2025
Arne Slot has itted that he does not expect Ibrahima Konate to be fit for their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg with Tottenham on Wednesday in the latest Liverpool injury news update.
Konate returned to Liverpool’s starting XI for their thrilling 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Sunday.
The Frenchman has not played football since late November after picking up a knee injury. The Red Devils’ visit to Anfield was Konate’s first game back and was kept busy throughout in what proved to be a topsy-turvy affair.
But with Liverpool back in action on Wednesday against Spurs, Konate is likely to sit this one out.
Liverpool Injury News: Ibrahima Konate Unlikely To Feature Against Tottenham
With Konate returning after a long stretch, two games in the space of a few days may be a step too far for the defender.
When asked why Konate was thrown straight back into Liverpool’s starting XI for United’s visit, Arne Slot said: “Because he was fit. If he wouldn’t [have been] then we wouldn’t have started him, then he doesn’t train with us. The moment he starts to train with the team he is fit again.
“It is not to say that he can immediately play two games a week, but he can definitely play 90 minutes, like he showed today.
🗣️ Arne Slot on Ibou Konate:
"If you have been out for such a long time it’s difficult to immediately play then two games a week, so it must not come as a surprise if he doesn’t play on Wednesday. But he played today for 90 minutes and I think he showed in that 90 minutes that… pic.twitter.com/osU9hclEMy
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) January 6, 2025
“Like you saw, except for the first game when I chose [Jarell] Quansah, all the other games when Ibou was fit he started, so that’s the answer I think to your question. The moment he is fit, he can start.
“But if you have been out for such a long time it’s difficult to immediately play then two games a week, so it must not come as a surprise if he doesn’t play on Wednesday.
“But he played today for 90 minutes and I think he showed in that 90 minutes that he was ready to play.”