Latest Liverpool news and gossip as Ibrahima Konate stars for France during the October international break
Ibrahima Konate will now return to Liverpool after starring for France during the international break. The Reds have been on a two-week hiatus from club football, while the second set of international fixtures of the season takes place this month.
Konate has been one of several members of the Liverpool squad that linked up with their respective national team last week. The centre-back featured in both of France’s Nations League fixtures against Israel and Belgium and continued his impressive start to the season.
Monday night saw Konate star for France in their 2-1 win over Belgium. The 25-year-old was handed the captain’s armband in the second half after Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni was shown a red card.
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Konate partnered Arsenal defender William Saliba at centre-back for France in both fixtures and played the full 90 minutes in each fixture. In the win in Brussels, though, it seems that Konate may have gained some valuable information about his compatriot.
Saliba endured a difficult game against Belgium, with the Arsenal centre-back giving away a penalty for a challenge on Lois Openda. The spot-kick was missed by Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans, but Belgium did get a goal back through Openda in the final moments of the first half.
The RB Leipzig striker headed the ball past France goalkeeper Mike Maignan, which was initially disallowed for offside. After a VAR review, Openda was onside and the goal was allowed to stand. Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani scored both goals for France to secure the win for his country.
Saliba has been critiqued for his performance against Belgium, most notably giving away the penalty for the challenge on Openda. Konate will have spent the last week or so alongside the Arsenal defender, as well as the last two sets of 90 minutes, and will have a good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of his compatriot’s game.
Liverpool are due to face Arsenal in the Premier League on October 27 at Anfield. The game could be decisive in the title race, but before then, the Reds will take on Chelsea in the top flight this weekend before travelling to face RB Leipzig in the Champions League a few days later.
