Liverpool FC are set to face AFC Bournemouth without their key defender, Ibrahima Konate. The French international confirmed the death of his father, Hamady, earlier this week and has been in Paris with his family since then. Given the sensitive circumstances, the club has decided not to rush him back into football.
Konate missed Liverpool's midweek trip to Marseille where they secured a comfortable 3-0 win. His absence from the Premier League fixture against AFC Bournemouth was all but confirmed by Arne Slot. The funeral for Konate’s father is scheduled for Friday in Aulnay-sous-Bois, France which further clarifies why personal support takes precedence over sporting considerations at this time.
Slot was measured and understanding when asked about Konate’s situation, reflecting the club's empathetic approach towards its players' personal issues.
Arne Slot, Liverpool manager, said:
“I spoke to him a few times, and I think these are private matters and they should stay between us. But it’s very obvious that if something like that happens, then the player needs time to be there for his family and also time for himself.”
Joe Gomez steps up in partnership with Virgil van Dijk
In light of Konate’s absence, Joe Gomez is expected to continue alongside Virgil van Dijk in defence. This partnership proved successful during their game against Marseille where they displayed an assured and calm understanding on field especially while dealing with early pressure from Marseille.
Gomez's form will be encouraging for Slot as he strategizes for upcoming games without Konate. However, there remains a note of caution around Gomez given his past injury record. The last time Gomez started consecutive matches he suffered a hamstring injury against Brighton which led him off-field for some time. This history will not be forgotten by Liverpool’s medical staff who are likely to monitor his fitness closely especially considering a demanding run of fixtures ahead.
While losing Ibrahima Konate is undoubtedly a blow for Liverpool FC due to personal reasons rather than sporting ones, the team's ability to adapt and perform in his absence will be crucial. The partnership of Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk will be under scrutiny as they navigate through this challenging period.
