The Frenchman’s availability for the Champions League was brought into doubt after he missed Tuesday’s open training session in Liverpool and was not named in the traveling squad
19:00, 20 Jan 2026Updated 20:00, 20 Jan 2026
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 20: Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 20, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)
Arne Slot failed to clarify if Ibrahima Konate will be available for Liverpool’s Champions League clash against Marseille on Wednesday.
The French defender missed Tuesday’s open training session at the AXA Training Centre, and was then not named in the traveling squad for the Champions League match a few hours later. Konate was actually already in France, having flown to his homeland ahead of the game for family reasons. His place in the squad, therefore, remains in doubt.
Asked in Tuesday’s press conference whether Konate could play some part against Marseille, Slot chose his words carefully.
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“Ibou didn’t travel with us because of family matters. I will speak at that. I will speak to him tomorrow again. I will leave it with that.”
Konate’s absence would be a huge blow given the former RB Leipzig man has started every Premier League and Champions League match this season.
Should Konate miss out, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are likely to start at center-back, but the Reds do not have further center-back options. Wellity Lucky, who has been involved in squads in recent weeks, was also not included in the group that flew to France.
Konate did not train with Liverpool on Tuesday(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
However, while Konate is set to miss out, Liverpool will welcome back Mohamed Salah, who has returned from the Africa Cup of Nations.
The winger, who missed the Reds last Champions League match following his comments in the Elland Road mixed zone.
“I’m really happy that he is back because in his absence I think we have gone okay in terms of hardly conceding any chances.
“We started to create more and, if we create more, it is helpful to have a player like Mo Salah because only one player has scored more goals for this club – but I can’t play Ian Rush still!
“It is helpful to have him back. We will know, but the amount of chances and ball possession against Burnley, with Mo on the pitch, would usually mean we would score more.
“That’s why I’m happy he is back because creating chances is nice, but we are only judged on the result. It wasn’t nice. Hopefully we can create the same chances and are able to score more, and keep not conceding chances at the other end.”
The Reds head into Wednesday’s match in ninth place in the Champions League league phase and sits just outside the automatic qualification places based on goals scored .
Three points will almost certainly be required to move into the top eight heading into next week’s final round of fixtures.