Liverpool's pre-season preparations have been dealt a significant blow as defender Ibrahima Konaté sustained a hamstring injury during their 2-2 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The French international, who had been a mainstay in Liverpool's defence last season, was forced off the pitch in the first half of the friendly encounter, casting serious doubt over his availability for their Premier League opener against Ipswich Town.
Defensive Dilemma for Slot
New Liverpool manager Arne Slot now faces an immediate selection headache with Konaté joining an increasingly crowded treatment room. The centre-back's absence compounds existing defensive concerns following Virgil van Dijk's extended break after Euro 2024 and Joe Gomez's own injury issues.
"It's a hamstring [injury], so it will be a few weeks, I think," Slot confirmed to reporters post-match. "We have to see how it progresses, but it's not a good sign that he had to come off."
Stamford Bridge Showcase
Despite the injury setback, Liverpool demonstrated resilience in their final pre-season outing against Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea. The Reds fought back twice through goals from Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz after falling behind to early strikes from Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson.
The match also featured a surprise appearance from former Manchester City and Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero, who featured for Liverpool amid their goalkeeper shortage.
Pre-Season Concerns Mount
Konaté's injury continues a worrying pattern for Liverpool, who have seen several key players struggle with fitness during their summer preparations. The situation leaves Slot with limited options at centre-back as the new Premier League season approaches.
With the transfer window still open, Liverpool's hierarchy may need to consider defensive reinforcements if Konaté faces an extended period on the sidelines.
The timing couldn't be worse for Slot, who aims to make a strong start to his Liverpool tenure after replacing the legendary Jürgen Klopp this summer.
