Liverpool have been dealt another major injury setback with Ibrahima Konate the latest player facing a spell on the sidelines.
Konate is expected to be out for at least a fortnight after suffering a hamstring problem during the FA Cup fourth round defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
The defender will now miss the Premier League trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, the Merseyside derby at home to Everton on February 13 and is a major doubt for the game at top-four chasing Newcastle United on February 18.
READ MORE: Liverpool 'waiting to see’ on Nat Phillips after Galatasaray transfer and Ibrahima Konate injury
Konate is also in danger of sitting out the Champions League round of 16 first leg clash at home to Real Madrid on Tuesday, February 21.
The 23-year-old has started only nine of Liverpool's 31 games this season, initially due to a knee injury suffered in the final friendly of pre-season against Strasbourg on July 31. However, he did begin three games at the World Cup for France and came off the bench in the final defeat to Argentina.
Konate's injury is a significant headache for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who has been without centre-back Virgil van Dijk for a month with a similar complaint and stated on Friday the Dutchman remains "a couple of weeks" away from a return to training. Forwards Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz also remained sidelined, along with on-loan midfielder Arthur Melo.
It leaves Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Nat Phillips as the Reds' only available senior centre-backs, with the future of Phillips now potentially impacted given he has attracted interest regarding a potential departure today ahead of the transfer deadline.
Rhys Williams was recalled earlier this month from his loan spell at Championship side Blackpool to cover for the possible departure of Phillips, with Billy Koumetio, another Academy youngster with first-team experience at centre-back, also back in the fold having been brought back from Austria Vienna.
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