Jurgen Klopp reveals Ibrahima Konate, Alisson concerns ahead of Leeds clash

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed that late calls will have to be made on the availability of Alisson Becker and Ibrahima Konate for Monday’s Premier League clash with Leeds United.

The Reds return to the road on the back of an enthralling 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Anfield, where Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino rescued a point for the Merseyside giants.

A draw was only good enough to keep Liverpool rooted in eighth place in the Premier League standings, though, 12 points adrift of a place in the top four.

Klopp’s team had seemingly come through the stalemate with the league leaders unscathed, but the Reds boss has now conceded that Alisson and Konate – two integral cogs in the Liverpool defence – have been forced to sit out a couple of training sessions this week.

While Klopp is hopeful that Konate should be back for Monday’s game, Alisson will be restricted to individual training on Friday as Caoimhin Kelleher waits in the wings if required.

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“We had some problems this week. Ibou [Konate] couldn’t train for two days, but should be back. Alisson will train individually today and wasn’t involved for two days; little bit of illness here, knocks there,” Klopp said at his pre-game press conference.

“If they are all in, we have five or six players not in the squad. There are no easy decisions about who stays at home and that is positive for us.”

Liverpool are already without Stefan Bajcetic (adductor) and Calvin Ramsay (knee) for the remainder of the season, while Naby Keita is recovering from a muscular problem and may have played his final game in a Reds shirt.

On a more positive note, Klopp revealed that Colombian attacker Luis Diaz is “100% ready” to make his return to the matchday squad after spending over six months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Diaz sustained the initial problem in October’s defeat to Arsenal and suffered a setback during the Reds’ mid-season training camp in Dubai, forcing him to go under the knife and delaying his recovery further.

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The 26-year-old has been training with the squad for a couple of weeks now, and while he was not risked last weekend, the plan was for him to make his long-awaited return at Elland Road.

“He is 100% ready and training; now we have to reintegrate him. He will be in the squad if nothing happens,” Klopp added on Diaz.

When asked if Diaz’s return felt like a new signing, the German responded: “Yes, absolutely. He is settled, his English is getting better, he has matured and is much more comfortable with everything.

“We are happy to have him back; he is a breath of fresh air. He can’t train without a smile on his face. We have to see how we can bring him back step by step.”

Victory for Liverpool on Monday could lift them up to sixth in the Premier League table if Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion fail to beat Newcastle United and Chelsea respectively.

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