Overview

• Ibrahima Konaté was withdrawn at Chelsea with quad discomfort, with Arne Slot saying the decision was precautionary after the defender limped.
• The issue occurred during a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool’s third straight loss, and Konaté will undergo tests with France at Clairefontaine to decide his involvement in World Cup qualifiers.
• With Giovanni Leoni out for the season with an ACL injury, Joe Gomez is currently the only fully fit senior natural centre-back available to Slot.
• Slot trialed Ryan Gravenberch in a deeper centre-back role during the game and indicated the switch was a pre-planned tactical option to improve build-up play.
• Liverpool remain in talks to extend Konaté’s contract as Real Madrid monitor his situation, and reports link the club with Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix after failing to land Marc Guehi in the summer.