Ibrahima Konate latest as Liverpool suffer second injury blow ahead of Merseyside derby

Liverpool have been dealt another injury scare after Ibrahima Konate was forced off playing for France on Thursday night.

Les Blues lost 2-0 to Croatia with Konate enduring a first-half to forget, responsible for a handball that resulted in a penalty being awarded against his side.

While Mike Maignan kept the spot kick out, Konate was replaced at the break with the hosts leading 2-0 thanks to goals from Ante Budimir and Ivan Perisic.

While the change was enforced, it was a disastrous first-half from the Liverpool man who was giving a dismal rating of 2/10 by Equipe before being replaced.

Dayot Upamecano was brought on for the Reds defender with France confirming on their social media accounts Konate ‘picked up a knock’ in the first period.

While the extent of the knock has not been confirmed, it will spark concern for Liverpool who return to action at home to Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday 2 April.

Arne Slot has already seen one of his key figures return to the club early during the international break with Ryan Gravenberch leaving the Netherlands camp this week.

The midfielder played in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle before travelling to link up with his Dutch teammates.

It later emerged however the former Bayern Munich star had been carrying a knock since the weekend.

Gravenberch returned to Liverpool for further assessment and missed last night’s 2-2 draw with Spain where club teammate Cody Gakpo was on target.

It also remains to be seen when Trent Alexander-Arnold will be available again.

The England star suffered an ankle injury in the Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

That blow cost him his place in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad and in the team that lost to Newcastle.

Liverpool are 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League with just nine games remaining.