Liverpool: Klopp points blame for Konate injury

The central defender is a doubt for Liverpool’s clash against Newcastle United…

As Premier League games begin to come thick and fast, the last thing that clubs will want is an injury to a first-team player, particularly this early on. Yet, that’s exactly what Jurgen Klopp will likely have to contend with against Newcastle United.

The Liverpool boss revealed in his press conference that Ibrahima Konate is an injury doubt for the Reds’ upcoming trip to St James’ Park. The German wasted no time in directing the blame for the defender’s injury, either, sharing his frustration.

Without the centre-back, Klopp will likely be forced to call on Joe Gomez or Joel Matip for the first time this season.

What happened in Liverpool’s win over Bournemouth?

Taking a shock lead through Antoine Semenyo’s third minute strike, Bournemouth would have been in dream land at Anfield, before goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah turned the game on its head.

The controversial moment didn’t come through the goals, however. Instead, it came through referee Thomas Bramall, who issued a red card to Alexis Mac Allister for his challenge on Ryan Christie. Racing for the ball, Mac Allister was beaten by Christie, and, therefore, followed through to catch the Bournemouth man just above his ankle.

The Argentine couldn’t hide his shock at his dismissal, and has since been given vindication for his disbelief, seeing the red card overturned following Liverpool’s appeal.

Even after the successful appeal, though, Klopp believes that his side have been made to pay the price for the red card.

What did Jurgen Klopp say?

Speaking in his press conference in the build-up to Liverpool’s clash with Newcastle this weekend, Klopp revealed Konate’s muscle injury, appearing to place blame on last week’s referee. He said: “Trent (Alexander-Arnold), yes, [trained] from Monday on… Curtis (Jones) from Monday on. Ibou (Konate) is a doubt…. playing 40 minutes with ten men didn’t help.”

It’s no surprise that the Reds boss is a frustrated figure, considering that the red card proved to be a mistake, and could have cost his side all three points, let alone the availability of Konate this weekend.

Fortunately, Diogo Jota’s second-half strike ensured that the hosts secured all three points at Anfield, but it is still a mistake that all involved would rather forget.

Now that Mac Allister is available, however, Liverpool will hope to finally unleash their summer signing from the shackles of defensive midfield, handing recent arrival Wataru Endo his full debut in the process.

Newcastle won’t be an easy challenge, though, that’s for sure. Eddie Howe’s side got off to a perfect start on the opening day, ruthlessly easing past Aston Villa, winning 5-1, before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City.

Now, with Liverpool up next, the Magpies will have a point to prove, and have a chance to show that last season’s top four finish was no fluke.

The Reds, meanwhile, will be looking to make a statement of their own. Earning seven points from a possible nine, having already ticked off trips to Stamford Bridge and St James’ Park, would represent an impressive start for those in Merseyside.

Liverpool: £34m “One-man army” can thrive next to Jones

Following the recruitment of Wataru Endo of Stuttgart, Liverpool continues to be linked to one of the rising stars in the Bundesliga…

What’s the latest Liverpool transfer news?

According to the Evening Standard, the Reds still hold a degree of interest in Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone, but a deal looks difficult to complete.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have been persistently linked with the 22-year-old, but their keenness waned when he picked up a knee injury at the U21 European Championship with France earlier in the summer.

Read The Latest Liverpool Transfer News HERE…

Monchengladbach sporting director Roland Virkus has lauded Kone’s talent and wants to keep him, saying:

“We don’t have to sell him. But it was always like this: if there is another immense offer, then we have to think about it. But that’s not the plan. Our plan is to keep Kone.

“Kone is a player who has something different, he gives you as a team a better balance in midfield.

“He’s coming back after the international break and he’s very important to us, a tough and intelligent footballer. We need stability in this position.”

The engine room machine is rated at around £34m, but given Liverpool were planning to splash £111m on Moises Caicedo, if the club came in with a notable offer it would definitely test the German’s resolve.

Would Manu Kone be a good signing for Liverpool?

The 6 foot 1 titan has been at Monchengladbach since 2021 and has swiftly established as one of Europe’s most gifted and sought-after players.

Last season, Kone started 30 Bundesliga games and gloriously demonstrated the well-rounded nature of his play by managing 87% pass accuracy, averaging 2.5 tackles per game, making no errors leading to a shot or goal, completing 60% of his dribbles and winning 56% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

Offensively, is he comfortable on the ball and technically component, ranking within the best 4% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for successful take-ons per 90, as well as the highest 22% for progressive carries per 90.

The Frenchman is also defensively astute, sitting in the top 21% for tackles and blocks per 90 to demonstrate that he can adequately protect the backline.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig once described the prodigy as a “one-man army” and if he finds himself in the Premier League, he could splendidly flourish alongside Curtis Jones.

The 22-year-old gem is one of the brightest youngsters to graduate from Liverpool’s academy and has a glistening future ahead in Merseyside.

Similarly to Kone, the Englishman is skilful and hard-working, which sees him rank within the best 14% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers pass completion per 90, progressive passes per 90, and tackles per 90.

His quality has been noted by former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who after a victory against Leicester City in May 2023, said:

“He has been outstanding. Everything that he has been doing with and without the ball: with the ball it speaks for itself, he rarely gives it away, he’s great in tight spaces, a really clever footballer.

“But also the work-rate without the ball has been key over the last few weeks. He is a great athlete, when he loses it or when we lose it he wins the ball back really quickly for us and his counter-press has been brilliant.”

With Kone’s contract at Monchengladbach expiring in 2025, a move in the future cannot be ruled out, so the thought of him playing with Jones is frightening, should Klopp and co get this deal over the line before September 1st.