Klopp shares Konate update ahead of Liverpool Champions League trip to Ajax

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Ibrahima Konate is “ready to play” for the Reds again.

The 23-year-old defender has barely featured for Liverpool this season due to injuries.

Konate picked up an injury in Liverpool’s last pre-season friendly that kept him out for the opening weeks of the campaign.

He then returned to action, then another fitness problem came, and he hasn’t played since the 7-1 win over Rangers.

Konate is now back, but Klopp heavily hinted that the Frenchman won’t be starting away at Ajax.

“Yes, he [Konate] is here,” the Liverpool boss told the Reds media team.

“Ready to play minutes, I would say.

“He could play the first minutes but that would not make too much sense, so minutes yes.”

Klopp right to be cautious with Konate – TBR View

Konate is a ‘magnificent‘ defender and Liverpool have missed him terribly.

With Joel Matip also still sidelined, Joe Gomez is expected to continue at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk.

Gomez has struggled at times this season, and came under criticism for his display at Nottingham Forest last time out.

At the same time, rushing a player back can cause their injury problems to aggravate.

So it’s best that Klopp doesn’t start Konate against Ajax – at best he’ll come on as a late substitute.

Darwin Nunez sat out the loss at Forest last week, but he is also back for the Ajax clash.

However, Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip remain unavailable for selection.

Klopp, when asked about Thiago’s status, replied: “Still out.

On Nunez’s condition, the Liverpool head coach said: “He trained normal yesterday and today. So yes, in this moment, he is available.”

And on the subject of whether Thiago could be available against Leeds United this weekend, Klopp added: “I hope not but who knows?”