It now looks like Liverpool will be without a key player tomorrow as they travel to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United.
A post from journalist Craig Hope on X today has suggested that Liverpool will be without Ibrahima Konate for the massive fixture tomorrow which will come as a blow for Jurgen Klopp.
Hope’s post read: “Hearing Ibrahima Konate will NOT be fit for Liverpool at Newcastle tomorrow, which means Joe Gomez or Joel Matip coming in. That feels like a big loss for LFC & big boost for NUFC.”
Liverpool’s defence has been questioned this season already
Liverpool’s defence has been questioned by pundits lately and losing a key player in an already shaky back line could make a huge difference to tomorrow’s unwritten story.
Ibrahima Konate is arguably Liverpool’s best defender these days as Virgil Van Dijk seems a shadow of his former self. Even former Liverpool coach Phil Thompson claimed Konate is an ‘absolute dream‘ player.
Klopp was asked yesterday in his press conference about the fitness of Konate and he said: ‘And Ibou is a doubt. Yeah, playing 40 minutes with ten men didn’t help; let me say it like that. But that’s the situation.’ which suggested a late fitness test at best for the French defender.
Isak and Gordon will be key players for Newcastle tomorrow
Newcastle will now be looking to exploit Klopp’s weakened back line although I don’t think the news will change Eddie Howe‘s team selection, but it may make him push for that fast start even more.
I honestly feel that if we come out of the blocks quickly, get stuck in straight away and grab an early goal it will knock Liverpool off so much they’ll not be able to recover and we can get a comfortable victory.
Players like Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon could have a field day against Matip or Gomez. Tomorrow could see us end a nine-year run without a victory over The Reds.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
