Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is confident that Ibrahima Konate’s knee injury is nothing serious, according to reliable journalist James Pearce.
The Lowdown: Konate picks up knock
A young Reds side lost 3-0 at home to Strasbourg on Sunday evening, in what was their final pre-season game before the start of the Premier League season.
The main negative on the night was Konate’s injury, however, as he limped off during the second half after suffering a knee injury.
It is an undoubted concern for Liverpool, with the Frenchman superb in his first season at the club, starting 11 league games and being preferred to Joel Matip in the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid.
The Latest: Pearce provides update
Writing on Twitter, Pearce provided a positive update on the situation, saying that a scan will hopefully determine that Konate’s injury is not serious:
“Klopp hopeful of good news as Konate set to undergo scan on his knee after limping out of defeat to Strasbourg.”
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The Verdict: Matip to start vs Fulham?
While this is good news, it would be a surprise if Konate were now available to face Fulham at Craven Cottage, as Liverpool begin what is hopefully another memorable Premier League campaign.
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That means Matip is almost certain to start alongside Virgil van Dijk, giving the defender a perfect chance to make himself first-choice in the opening weeks of the season.
Konate will be desperate to win his place back as soon as possible, however, and this healthy competition at the back can only be a good thing moving forward.