Arne Slot shares Ibrahima Konate injury update after limping out of Liverpool draw with Chelsea
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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesIbrahima KonatéArne Slot also provided the latest on the fitness of Mohamed Salah and Alisson, who missed the Chelsea through injury but might be available to face Aston VillaArne Slot shared a fitness update on Ibrahima Konate after the Chelsea gameArne Slot has eased concerns around Ibrahima Konate’s injury status after the defender limped out of Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea.The center-back was replaced by Joe Gomez during the latter stage and appeared in discomfort as he made his way off the pitch. Konate had put in a solid performance on a disappointing afternoon at Anfield, in which Arne Slot faced boos from the home supporters once again.But Slot is hopeful the Frenchman will be fit to face Aston Villa on Friday.
“ Konate, we have to wait and see,” the Liverpool head coach said in his post-match press conference.READ MORE: Arne Slot responds to Liverpool boos with '100 percent convinced' verdict on futureREAD MORE: Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Chelsea as Rio Ngumoha stars“The way he limped off, he told me it was cramp, but let’s hope he is right in his assessment. But we have to wait and see tomorrow, hope he feels.”Asked for a further update on Mohamed Salah and Alisson, who missed the match through illness, Slot said: “Mo is close to returning, Ali is close to returning, but Flo [Wirtz] we have to wait and see how he is recovering after what he has.”Wirtz missed the game through illness, with Slot revealing pre-match that his stomach infection worsened on Friday.His creativity was missed in the 1-1 draw at Anfield, with Liverpool struggling to make inroads in the second period.Slot said he is hopeful Konate's injury is not seriousThe decision to withdraw Rio Ngumoha, the Reds’ most exciting attacking outlet, was jeered in the 67th minute.
That was repeated at full-time, as Liverpool was held by a side that had lost its six previous games.Slot said the decision was taken as Ngumoha was struggling with cramp. “It makes complete sense if you take a player off that is playing well, that assisted - people don’t expect you to take that player off, it wasn’t my intention to do,” he explained.“He is a good player but I don’t think he is at a level yet to play at 50 or 60 percent to make the difference.Liverpool fans booed Slot's decision to replace Ngumoha during the draw with Chelsea(Image: (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images))“Maybe the fans have a different opinion and he would have been able to play at this level at 50 or 60 percent - I don’t know but not being fit enough to sprint.“If you don’t know that, you feel like: ‘Why did he take him off?’ I knew the moment his number went up that would be the reaction but that is not the reason.On the boos at full-time, Slot added: “I think it makes sense because this club should not be happy with a 1-1 against Chelsea.“We always aim for a win and if we don’t win, we are disappointed, especially in a season when we have not won as much as people expect.