Overview

• Giovanni Leoni has suffered an ACL injury expected to rule him out for the season, leaving Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Gomez as the only natural senior centre-backs.
• Arne Slot is weighing Wataru Endo as short-term cover at centre-back after Ryan Gravenberch briefly filled in when Konaté went off against Crystal Palace.
• Analysis highlights Konaté’s poor display in the Palace defeat and urges Liverpool to push for Marc Guéhi in January after a failed deadline-day move.
• Reports differ on Konaté’s future, with Spanish outlets claiming Real Madrid have largely secured a 2026 deal while The Athletic is cited saying he has not made a final decision; insiders add Liverpool could let him leave if a replacement arrives.
• Bayern’s Max Eberl says the club will try to extend Dayot Upamecano, complicating one Liverpool target, as separate reports say AC Milan remain in contact over Joe Gomez.