Liverpool injury update: Ibrahima Konate, Alisson Becker, Wataru Endo latest news and return dates ahead of Manchester united clash…

Liverpool injury update: Ibrahima Konate, Alisson Becker, Wataru Endo latest news and return dates.

The Reds are facing several significant fitness issues as they prepare for their Premier League match against Manchester United.

Liverpool is just days away from a crucial Premier League encounter with Manchester United.

The current champions of England, who have won their first five matches of the season, will enter this important clash at Anfield following consecutive losses to Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

Adding to their woes, the Reds also suffered a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League, marking their first three consecutive losses across all competitions under Arne Slot.

As the second international break of the season comes to an end, Slot will be eager for all his players to return in optimal condition and ready to resume their campaign.

However, there has been some concerning news during the break, with two senior players withdrawing from their national teams, raising uncertainties ahead of the match against United.

Here’s the latest on Liverpool’s injury situation…

Ibrahima Konate

Ibrahima Konate did not complete the match against Chelsea, and Slot has confirmed that the substitution was due to an injury.

The French defender reported a quad issue but joined the France squad, which seemed like a significant boost ahead of the match against United.

Unfortunately for Slot and Liverpool fans, Konate left the France squad on Saturday after not playing in the 3-0 victory over Azerbaijan in World Cup qualifying on Friday night.

Upon his return to Merseyside, the central defender will undergo an assessment to see if he can be deemed fit to start against the Red Devils.

Expected return date: Unknown

Alisson Becker

Alisson was absent from Brazil’s victory over South Korea and will also miss the friendly against Japan later this week.

Slot is increasingly pessimistic about the availability of Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper for the match against United.

Reports indicate that Alisson may be out for as long as six weeks. Although Slot did not specify a return date, he effectively ruled the goalkeeper out for the match against United on October 19.

“The speed of recovery will determine his return, so it’s evident that he won’t be playing for Brazil,” Slot informed reporters prior to the Chelsea defeat.

“I would be surprised if he [Alisson] is available for the first match after the international break. After that, the recovery could either progress quickly or slowly. It’s challenging to estimate the exact number of days or weeks.

“He will not be part of our squad or the Brazil team for the upcoming matches.”

Expected return date: Late October

Wataru Endo

Wataru Endo was unable to join the Japan national team due to an injury, as confirmed by the team in a statement last week.

“The Japan National Team will be without Wataru Endo (Liverpool FC) due to injury for the Kirin Challenge Cup 2025 (October 10th vs. Paraguay in Osaka, October 14th vs. Brazil in Tokyo).”

The severity of the injury has not yet been revealed, making it impossible to estimate when Endo might return to play.

Expected return date: Unknown

Giovanni Leoni

Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni is facing a year-long absence due to a severe knee injury.

The 18-year-old center-back sustained the injury during his debut at Anfield against Championship team Southampton in the third round of the Carabao Cup, landing awkwardly after a late challenge in the 2-1 victory.

He received on-field treatment and was later taken off on a stretcher, with further examinations confirming an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Slot has stated that Leoni will be sidelined for approximately a year due to the torn ACL.

“He’s certainly not in a good situation,” the Reds manager remarked. “He has torn his ACL, which will keep him out for about a year.

“At such a young age, moving to a new country, and performing well in your first match, it’s tough to find the positives. You always strive to focus on the bright side, and that is that he is…

“At such a young age, arriving in a new country and performing admirably in your debut match makes it challenging to focus on the positives. One always strives to see the bright side, which is that he is still quite young.

“He has many years ahead of him once he heals from such a serious injury.”

Expected return date: Late 2026