Liverpool have been hit with a major injury setback ahead of their Premier League showdown with Manchester United, as defender Ibrahima Konaté has been ruled out after suffering a setback in his recovery from a quadriceps injury.
The French centre-back picked up the problem during Liverpool’s 2–1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Despite early hopes of a quick recovery, further assessments have confirmed he will not feature against United.
Konaté, 26, had linked up with France for international duty but was sent home from camp after failing to regain full fitness. His absence comes as a huge blow to Arne Slot, whose defensive options are already stretched.
The injury first surfaced when Konaté was forced off against Chelsea after pulling up in the second half. Slot later described the substitution as precautionary, saying: “He felt something in his quad, and that’s always concerning. It was better to take him off immediately.”
France manager Didier Deschamps confirmed that medical tests ruled the defender out of their World Cup qualifier against Iceland, with Benjamin Pavard called up in his place.
For Liverpool, the timing is far from ideal. Giovanni Leoni remains out for the season with an ACL injury, while Joe Gomez is still working towards full match fitness. Slot may now be forced to reshuffle his backline, with options limited ahead of the high-stakes clash at Anfield.
During the defeat to Chelsea, the Dutch manager briefly deployed Ryan Gravenberch in defence alongside Virgil van Dijk — an experimental move that may not hold up against United’s attack. Reports from the AXA Training Centre suggest Slot could consider a temporary switch to a back-three formation, allowing full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson to play deeper.
Deschamps praised Konaté’s importance for both club and country, saying: “He’s been one of our most consistent defenders. The best thing for him now is rest and recovery.”
Liverpool’s medical team will continue to monitor his progress, with early signs indicating the injury is not long-term. Still, with quadriceps issues often unpredictable, the club is taking a cautious approach.
Konaté’s absence is a major concern for Liverpool, as his partnership with Van Dijk has been central to their defensive stability. Without him, Slot faces a tough tactical challenge as he prepares his side for one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season.
As the countdown to Sunday’s clash continues, Liverpool fans will be hoping for positive updates — but for now, all signs point to Konaté missing out against Manchester United
