Ibrahima Konate Rested for Liverpool’s Europa League Match Against Toulouse

Liverpool faced off against Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday night, with Jurgen Klopp making eight changes to his lineup from the Merseyside derby. Luke Chambers was among those to come in for his full debut, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones all started.

However, one absentee from a reserve list that included the likes of Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai was Ibrahima Konate. The Frenchman was surprisingly left out of the squad, with Van Dijk and Jarell Quansah considered ample backup for starters Joel Matip and Joe Gomez.

The Liverpool Echo’s Paul Gorst reports that the 24-year-old was simply rested, with no new fitness issues or fallout from his near-miss in avoiding a second yellow card against Everton.

Despite injuries to Thiago, Andy Robertson, Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak and Conor Bradley, the option to omit Konate entirely shows the depth enjoyed by Klopp. With only two days to rest, recover and prepare for the visit of Nottingham Forest on Sunday, the ability to rest the No. 5 is a major positive.

Konate has only completed the full 90 minutes in four of his nine appearances so far this season, being substituted on three times and off twice. No risks will be taken with a player whose top-heavy build and all-action style makes him more prone to injury than others.

Konate’s Injury History

Konate joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2021 and has been a regular starter for Klopp since then. He has made 22 appearances in all competitions this season, but has been hampered by a hamstring injury that has kept him out of three games.

The 24-year-old has also had a history of knee problems, having suffered a serious ligament injury in 2019 that ruled him out for several months. He was able to make a full recovery from that injury, but it is something that Liverpool will be wary of.

Klopp’s Rotations

Klopp has been keen to rotate his squad this season, particularly in the Europa League. He has used the competition as an opportunity to give some of his younger players a chance to shine, while also giving some of his more experienced players a rest.

Konate is one of those players who has benefited from Klopp’s rotations, having been given the opportunity to play in the Europa League when he might not have been able to do so in the Premier League. This has allowed him to gain valuable experience and build up his match fitness.

Conclusion

Ibrahima Konate was not part of the Liverpool squad to face Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday night, with his absence from the group explained as simply being rested. This is a testament to the strength of Liverpool’s squad and Klopp’s willingness to rotate his players. Konate has had a history of injuries, so it is important that he is not overworked and is given the opportunity to rest when necessary.