Ibrahima Konate could start for Liverpool with Jurgen Klopp hinting that the Frenchman is in line to feature against Napoli tonight.
The Reds return to Champions League action this evening as they host Napoli at Anfield.
Liverpool lost 2-1 to Leeds United on Saturday evening as their Premier League campaign continues to be a big problem.
A spot in the last 16 of the Champions League is at least secured now but Klopp would still love a victory over a red-hot Napoli side tonight.
Ibrahima Konate could start for Liverpool
Liverpool were ripped apart in Naples back in September and would love to exert some form of revenge tonight.
Yet with qualification through the group stage already secured, Liverpool can rotate their side a little.
Players like Kostas Tsimikas, Fabio Carvalho and even Calvin Ramsay may be hopeful of featuring tonight.
Then there is defender Ibrahima Konate, whose stop-start season has been a real source of frustration.
The Frenchman picked up an injury in pre-season which meant he didn’t make his first appearance of the season until October 9th, coming on against Arsenal.
Konate then started in the 7-1 thrashing of Rangers three days later but picked up another injury and hasn’t played again since.
Konate was back on the bench against Ajax and Leeds, so this may be the ideal opportunity for him to come back into the side.
Klopp spoke to the media on Monday and is quoted by Liverpool’s official website as saying that there is a ‘good chance’ that Konate will start against Napoli.
“We will see. Ibou, I think there’s a good chance that he will have a game,” said Klopp.
It’s vital that Konate gets minutes under his belt having played just 100 minutes of first-team action this season.
Joe Gomez has been very up and down of late, excelling against Manchester City before struggling against Nottingham Forest and Leeds.
That means Konate can stake his claim for a starting role alongside Virgil van Dijk and tonight’s game could be his golden opportunity.
The 23-year-old just needs to stay fit and Klopp may have to manage his minutes carefully to keep him available in the coming weeks.
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