Ibrahima Konate leaves Liverpool squad before Champions League clash with Marseille

Liverpool could be without Ibrahima Konate for Wednesday’s clash against Marseille after the defender returned to France for family reasons.

The France international was absent from the Reds’ open training session in Kirkby on Tuesday and it is not yet clear whether he will join his teammates in Marseille.

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Liverpool take on Roberto De Zerbi’s side knowing they need just one point to confirm their spot in next month’s Champions League play-off round.

However, Arne Slot’s men will have one eye on a top eight finish which would see them bypass the play-offs and go directly into the last-16 stage.

That makes Wednesday’s clash in the red-hot atmosphere of the Stade Velodrome a must win for Liverpool, a task which could be made harder if Konate’s absence is confirmed.

The Athletic’s James Pearce posted on X: “Ibrahima Konate back in France for family reasons. Remains to be seen whether he links up with the squad in Marseille.”

Defensive crisis

His absence would see the Reds head to the south of France with just two fit senior centre-halves in the squad.

The Reds are already without long-term casualties Giovani Leoni and full-back Connor Bradley, leaving Slot with a defensive headache.

Joe Gomez, who has struggled for fitness this season, was present at the open training session and could deputise for the Frenchman.

Alternatively, Slot could opt to utilise midfielders Ryan Gravenberch or Wataru Endo as makeshift centre-backs for Wednesday’s clash, live on talkSPORT.

The situation is hardly ideal for an under-pressure Slot following last weekend’s disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Burnley.

Despite a summer of huge spending in the transfer market, Slot’s side have struggled to continue their title-winning form of last season and sit 14 points adrift of leaders Arsenal in the Premier League table.

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Liverpool now find themselves in an unlikely battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

The door is open

In a bid to improve his side’s fortunes in the second half of the season, Slot says he remains open to adding to his squad this month but would not entertain the idea of panic buying.

“I think this club has always shown, similar to bringing players in, that we never say no,” he said.

“This club has always shown that if another club makes the right offer, and we think it is the right offer and a good offer – and I don’t include only me, I include the sporting directors and our owners – then we can make a decision we all agree on.

“But at this moment in time, we are working with the players we have. So that is something, you know how this club works, too.

“Everyone is talking about our £450million spend [last summer] and everyone is forgetting we sold for £300million.

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“I cannot blame anyone because I think we, Liverpool, are quite an exception to selling. Usually, most Premier League clubs only buy, and that is why it is such an unbelievable accomplishment.

“It is so well run, this club, so it can perform at the level it has in recent years.”

There was some good news for Liverpool on Tuesday as Mohamed Salah re-joined his teammates following his exploits with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.