Ibrahima Konaté Misses Liverpool Training, Giving Arne Slot Fresh Marseille Injury Headache

Ibrahima Konaté was the standout absentee from Liverpool's training session at the AXA Training Centre, sparking concerns for manager Arne Slot ahead of the crucial trip to Marseille.

The French centre-back arrived at the training ground alongside his teammates on Tuesday morning but did not participate in either the gym work or outdoor pitch sessions. Instead, Konaté met with Liverpool's director of medicine and performance, Jonathan Power, indicating a possible medical assessment or precautionary measure regarding his workload.[2]

This absence creates a defensive dilemma for Slot. Without Konaté, the available specialist centre-backs are limited to Virgil van Dijk and promising 19-year-old Wellity Lucky, potentially forcing tactical adjustments for the Wednesday evening clash in France.[2][3]

Konaté's status remains uncertain, with his participation hinging on further evaluations. The timing is particularly frustrating as Liverpool prepare for this key fixture, where defensive solidity will be paramount against Marseille's attacking threats.

Other squad updates include Mo Salah returning to training ahead of the Marseille game, boosting the attack.[1] However, Conor Bradley and Cody Gakpo also skipped the session and face late-week fitness tests. Dominik Szoboszlai was restricted to gym work due to his suspension, while Joe Gomez and Stefan Bajcetic continued indoor rehabilitation.[2]

Slot's squad management reflects a cautious approach amid a congested schedule, but Konaté's mystery absence adds to the growing injury concerns. Fans will be anxiously monitoring updates, hoping the robust defender can recover in time to partner Van Dijk and shore up the backline in France.[2][3]

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