'I think': Arne Slot delivers injury update on Ibrahima Konate after forced substitution against Arsenal
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Liverpool overcame Arsenal to snatch a 1-0 win in a tough battle at Anfield on Sunday.
The Reds were not at their best against last season’s runners-up, and were reliant on a Dominik Szoboszlai piece of magic to take the points.
Nevertheless, while Arne Slot will no doubt want to see more from his team in an attacking sense, he has every right to be delighted by how they stood firm on Sunday.
Arsenal are no picnic to play against, and Liverpool defended their relentless set-pieces brilliantly.
After a difficult start to the season, one of the best performers on the day was Ibrahima Konate.
Unfortunately, after repelling Arsenal virtually on his own at times, Konate was taken off with an apparent injury.
With Liverpool still trying to sign Marc Guehi before deadline day on Monday, Slot provided an update on Konate’s condition following the full-time whistle.
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
One of the biggest reasons Liverpool are looking to sign Guehi is because Konate has a chequered history with injuries.
While the Frenchman is excellent on his day, he can easily succumb to fitness problems.
As a result, fans will have been fearing the worst after seeing him leave the pitch on Sunday.
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But speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Slot revealed that it looked like a touch of cramp for Konate rather than anything more serious.
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“I could only not take one player into the game so I had to leave one out and that was a centre back [Giovanni Leoni],” he explained after being asked if the No.
I think it was only cramp so I don’t think it was an injury.
We have to find out in the upcoming games.”
Another slightly concerning sight for Liverpool supporters was that of Florian Wirtz being taken off with minutes remaining.
Wirtz struggled a little against Arsenal but grew into the game as it went on, and fans will not want him injured for any period of time.
Thankfully, Slot also spoke post-game to confirm that the German was simply suffering from a case of cramp as well.
“Arne Slot says Florian Wirtz is not injured it was just a “welcome to the Premier League, he didn’t know he could have cramp in so many different places,” journalist Lewis Steele posted on X.
With no other new issues picked up from the game so far, it has to go down as a very good day at the office for Liverpool.