Liverpool faces further crisis after three consecutive defeats

Liverpool keeps falling into a deeper crisis as they suffer another significant injury setback in the 1-2 defeat to Chelsea. Center-back Ibrahima Konate had to leave the pitch in the second half, sparking fears of a fresh injury while Arne Slot’s squad is already heavily weakened.

The reigning champions of the Premier League have endured a dreadful week, losing three consecutive matches across all competitions. After their unbeaten domestic run was halted by Crystal Palace, Liverpool also fell to Galatasaray in the Champions League. The 1-2 defeat against Chelsea has intensified the pressure on Arne Slot’s team as their form declines alongside mounting personnel problems.

Not only did Liverpool drop points, but they also played without their first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the trip to London. In the second half, Konate suddenly hobbled off, causing concern among fans.

After the match, coach Arne Slot confirmed that Konate’s substitution was due to fitness issues rather than tactical reasons. Slot said: “I’m not sure if it’s a serious injury, but I noticed he was limping. When I asked, he said he felt a slight strain in his thigh muscle. To me, that’s a warning sign because one more sprint could be unpredictable.”

He emphasized that the substitution was planned in advance, but Konate’s situation forced him to act sooner: “I had already considered making a substitution, maybe a bit earlier or later, because the right-sided center-back holds the ball a lot and we need to build from there. Ryan (Gravenberch) is quite capable of doing that. His early exit could be positive if the injury isn’t serious, but clearly I had to replace him since he was limping.”

Konate has been called up to the French national team for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Iceland. However, given the current situation, it’s uncertain whether the defender will join the squad as planned. The final decision depends on medical assessments in the coming days.

Konate’s issue further complicates Liverpool’s defensive problems. New signing Giovanni Leoni is out for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and Alisson’s return date remains unknown. Under these circumstances, Joe Gomez is the only natural center-back available to play.

Related article

Revealed: Chelsea’s set play that caused Liverpool’s collapse in stoppage time Marc Cucurella disclosed that Chelsea deliberately targeted Liverpool’s defensive weaknesses before scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time, securing a thrilling 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge for The Blues. See more