Ibrahima Konate may miss Liverpool’s game with Leeds on Saturday despite appearing to make his injury comeback in the midweek win at Ajax, Jurgen Klopp has warned.
The manager named Konate on his bench in Amsterdam having only made one appearance all campaign as he recovers from a knee injury.
“I would say the Ajax game, we didn't have more subs, so we could take him with us," Klopp told reporters.
“But he was not really ready for this game – in a very serious situation, last five minutes maybe.
“So now we have to see. He's a step closer, definitely, a few days more and he's around now and is now available. How long? We will see but he's available.”
Leeds head to Anfield on Saturday night without a league win since August while Liverpool earned a vital shot in the arm by downing Ajax in midweek, a result which Klopp said has changed the mood on Merseyside.
“If we lost at Ajax, we have to play Leeds and then we have a final against Napoli - I would feel different I can tell you,” he added.
“But in the moment, it's not too important. Yes, we have to see who we can use again. The situation is a tough five games until the World Cup break. For us, all [are] super important - they are. That's all I'm talking about and then there's a long break and we'll see how we get back.
“But we have to create a basis for the time after and we have to do that with three games in the league which are all difficult. I can't find an easy one.”
