Ibrahima Konate was forced off just after half-time of Liverpool’s 2-1 Premier League defeat at Chelsea last Saturday with a thigh injury and has now been released from the France squad
Ian Doyle Chief Liverpool FC Writer and Matt C Jones
14:15, 11 Oct 2025
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate during a training session with France in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, southwest of Paris, on October 8 2025(Image: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Ibrahima Konate has been released from the France squad and will return to Liverpool to continue his recovery from a thigh injury.
Despite limping off shortly after half-time during Liverpool’s 2-1 Premier League defeat at Chelsea last Saturday, Konate was called up by his national team earlier this week.
The centre-back missed several days of training before participating in a session on Wednesday at Clairefontaine.
However, he did not feature from the bench during the 3-0 home World Cup qualifying win over Azerbaijan on Friday night and has now been replaced by Marseille defender Benjamin Pavard for Monday’s match in Iceland.
While there is no suggestion that Konate has worsened the problem, his absence from both games for his national team will be a worry for Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
Konate is one of only three recognised centre-backs available to Slot, with teenager Giovanni Leoni ruled out for the season after suffering an ACL injury in the League Cup victory over Southampton two weeks ago, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Liverpool will assess Konate’s fitness upon his return to the AXA Training Centre ahead of their season resumption with the Premier League visit of fierce North West rivals Manchester United next Sunday.
Liverpool have lost their last three games in succession in all competitions, including two last-gasp losses in the league to Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
United head coach Ruben Amorim eased some of the pressure on him last weekend with a 2-0 win over Sunderland. The Portuguese is still yet to win back-to-back
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