{"id":467073,"date":"2025-10-02T00:12:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T00:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/467073\/"},"modified":"2025-10-02T00:12:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T00:12:13","slug":"arne-slot-faces-ibrahima-konate-decision-as-liverpool-consider-ripping-up-midfield-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/467073\/","title":{"rendered":"Arne Slot faces Ibrahima Konate decision as Liverpool consider ripping up midfield again"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Liverpool are next up against Chelsea in the Premier League with Arne Slot facing some selection posers<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_GettyImages-2237962946.jpg\" alt=\"Liverpool head coach Arne Slot\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: YASIN AKGUL\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\">Liverpool suffered back-to-back defeats for only the second time under Arne Slot when they were beaten 1-0 at Galatasaray on Tuesday evening in the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/uefa-champions-league\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Champions League<\/a>. The only goal of the game came in the 16th minute when Victor Osimhen scored from the spot after referee Clement Turpin had adjudged Dominik Szoboszlai to have fouled Baris Alper Yilmaz.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\">Arne Slot&#8217;s side now face another major test of their <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/barclays-premier-league\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Premier League<\/a> credentials when they travel to Chelsea on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\">And here we look ahead to the changes <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/arne-slot\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Slot<\/a> could make when his team are next in action.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/curtis-jones-liverpool-fc-galatasaray-32587012\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"32587012\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Curtis Jones makes alarming admission about Liverpool&#8217;s defeat to Galatasaray<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/galatasaray-liverpool-okan-buruk-quotes-32586829\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"32586829\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Galatasaray boss rubs salt in Liverpool wounds after beating Reds &#8211; &#8216;A sense of fear&#8217;<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Right-back poser<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/liverpool-player-ratings-galatasaray-breaking-32584645\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Another poor performance<\/a> from <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/ibrahima-konate\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Ibrahima KonateLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Ibrahima Konate<\/a> is prompting the very real possibility of the Frenchman being benched with <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/joe-gomez\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Joe GomezLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Joe Gomez<\/a> instead coming in at centre-back alongside <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/virgil-van-dijk\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Virgil van DijkLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Virgil van Dijk<\/a> at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/liverpool-star-giovanni-leoni-provides-32592700\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">With Giovanni Leoni out for the season<\/a>, the only other player who could realistically start in the role is <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/wataru-endo\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Wataru EndoLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Wataru Endo<\/a>, although <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/ryan-gravenberch\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Ryan GravenberchLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Ryan Gravenberch<\/a> has had spells in the position already this campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/dominik-szoboszlai\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Dominik SzoboszlaiLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Dominik Szoboszlai<\/a> was again at right-back in Galatasaray <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/liverpool-early-transfer-signs-not-32584652\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">with Jeremie Frimpong pushed up into midfield<\/a> and Conor Bradley benched. All three will come under consideration in the position with Slot still not having settled on a preferred choice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/milos-kerkez\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Milos KerkezLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Milos Kerkez<\/a> was among a number of Liverpool players to be below par and is under pressure from Andy Robertson at left-back.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/alisson-becker-injury-blow-confirmed-32584932\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">And with Alisson Becker injured for the foreseeable<\/a>, Giorgi Mamardashvili is now the first-choice goalkeeper with Freddie Woodman his understudy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Jones to stay?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\">The midfield continues to be a cause for concern for Slot having misfired again in Istanbul. The only consistent presence has been Gravenberch, and he will be expected to start against Chelsea.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\">Liverpool otherwise have options. Alexis Mac Allister&#8217;s underwhelming cameo at Galatasaray highlighted he remains some way short of full fitness, and <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/curtis-jones\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Curtis JonesLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Curtis Jones<\/a> could be favourite to continue after a decent showing in Istanbul.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\">Szoboszlai and Endo are alternatives, while 18-year-old Trey Nyoni is still to make his Premier League debut.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\">In the number 10 position, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/alexander-isak-fears-come-true-32584944\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Florian Wirtz continues to adapt to his new surrounds<\/a>, with Szoboszlai the most obvious other option although Jones can also play in the role.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Ekitike blow<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\">The injury that is likely to sideline <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/hugo-ekitike\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Hugo EkitikeLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Hugo Ekitike<\/a> means <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/alexander-isak\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Alexander IsakLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Alexander Isak<\/a> is almost certain to lead the line against Chelsea, especially with Federico Chiesa <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/federico-chiesa-liverpool-arne-slot-32576818\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">having been absent in Turkey<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"liverpoolecho\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/mohamed-salah\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Mohamed Salah<\/a> will be expected to replace Frimpong on the right flank, while the only competition for Cody Gakpo on the left at present is teenager Rio Ngumoha. Jayden Danns suffered a hamstring injury with the under-21s last weekend and remains out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Liverpool are next up against Chelsea in the Premier League with Arne Slot facing some selection posersLiverpool head&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":467074,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8815],"tags":[748,393,4884,179,763,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-467073","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-liverpool","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-liverpool","12":"tag-liverpool-fc","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115301681957812863","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=467073"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467073\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/467074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=467073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=467073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=467073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}