Ibrahima Konate and Florian Wirtz came off in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Arsenal at Anfield
Ibrahima Konate is greeted by Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot as he leaves the field injured during the Premier League clash against Arsenal at Anfield(Image: DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
Arne Slot has played down injury fears for Ibrahima Konate and Florian Wirtz after the duo were forced off during Liverpool’s Premier League win over Arsenal. And the Reds boss has hinted his squad has sufficient cover at centre-back despite the ongoing interest in Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi.
Konate hobbled from the field 11 minutes from the end of the 1-0 victory against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon that moved the Reds two points clear at the top of the embryonic table.
The France international believed he was suffering from cramp but will undergo scans with Liverpool not taking any chances over his fitness.
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“He thinks it’s cramp and I have no reason to doubt him although sometimes players talk about cramp and then we make a scan and it’s more than that,” said Reds boss Slot.
“Jeremie Frimpong wasn’t too happy, like some pundits, when we took him out against Bournemouth.
“He thought he only had cramp or only felt it a little bit, and he’s already out for two or three weeks now. Let’s wait and see.”
Wirtz was replaced late on after being in visible discomfort, although Slot said: “It wasn’t an injury. It was a welcome to the Premier League.
“It was after 85 minutes I don’t think he knew he could have cramp in so many different places. That’s what happened.
“That is welcome to the Premier League, welcome to this intensity against an Arsenal side who can play very intense as well.
“If you bring in what we do, very good players so, so talented but from different leagues and young, 22 Florian, 23 Hugo (Ekitike), it’s normal that if you aren’t 27 or 28 that you maybe need to make a step towards the Premier League. That’s what these two are doing.”
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Transfer deadline day is almost upon us and Liverpool still have business to do. It’s already been a busy summer for the Premier League champions but they could still pull off a couple of blockbuster signings as the window comes to a close.
Alexander Isak’s future remains unresolved, with the striker refusing to play or train for Newcastle United. Liverpool remain interested in a deal for the Swede.
Meanwhile, Marc Guehi has been a player of interest all summer and Liverpool could still launch a last-minute deal for the Crystal Palace defender.
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Konate’s departure further raised scrutiny of Liverpool’s centre-back options, with the Reds still seeking to sign Guehi.
Palace want £40million for the England international, who is out of contract in less than 12 months, while the Reds have offered £35m with a 10% sell-on.
And Slot made reference to his centre-back options when he said: “On a positive note, Joe Gomez, what a 15 minutes. I had to make one difficult choice today because I had to leave one player out of the squad with only Frimpong being injured.
“The good thing was it was a centre-back in Giovanni Leoni, so we are perfectly placed in that position.”