😬 Liverpool Hit With New Injury Scare Ahead of Manchester United Clash

Liverpool’s injury list continues to grow just days before their highly anticipated Premier League showdown with Manchester United — and this latest setback has fans on edge.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, while young defender Giovanni Leoni faces a lengthy spell out following an ACL tear. Now, Ibrahima Konate has joined the growing list of concerns after being sent home from international duty with France.

According to an official statement from the French Football Federation, the 26-year-old centre-back has been released back to Liverpool after undergoing treatment for a quad issue during his stay at Clairefontaine. The statement explained that although Konate had been following a modified training program since Monday, he would not be fit enough to feature in France’s upcoming World Cup qualifier against Iceland.

In consultation with manager Didier Deschamps and team doctor Franck Le Gall, Konate withdrew from the national squad and will now return to Merseyside for further assessment.

This development raises fresh doubts over his availability for Liverpool’s next fixture at Old Trafford, a match that could prove pivotal for Arne Slot’s side. Should Konate fail to recover in time, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez could be the only senior centre-back options left for the Reds — a scenario that will undoubtedly concern the coaching staff and supporters alike.

While there’s no confirmation yet of whether Konate’s existing injury has worsened, Liverpool’s medical team will carefully monitor his progress at the AXA Training Centre in the coming days.

Deschamps’ decision to send the defender home rather than risk aggravating the problem appears to be a sensible one — especially with Liverpool already short of defensive options.

Despite some inconsistent performances in recent weeks, Konate remains a key part of Slot’s defensive setup. His potential absence against Manchester United would leave a noticeable gap in the squad, and the hope around Anfield is that the move to withdraw him from France duty is merely precautionary.

For now, Liverpool fans will be crossing their fingers that their 25-cap French powerhouse can recover in time for the biggest match of the month. 💪🔴