Liverpool look set to be without Ibrahima Konate for their Champions League decider against Qarabag.
Konate has been absent for Liverpool’s last two games - the 3-0 win over Marseille and 3-2 loss against Bournemouth - due to a family bereavement and Arne Slot has made it clear that the Frenchman will be given all the time he needs.
“I've spoken to him a few times and these are private matters and they should stay that way,” Slot said last week before the trip to the Vitality Stadium.
“It's very obvious when something like that happens the player needs time to be there for his family and for himself.”
Unsurprisingly, Konate was absent from Tuesday’s training session which suggests he will sit out Liverpool’s final fixture of this season’s league phase.
Federico Chiesa, however, was pictured in training to place himself in contention for a return to the matchday squad, but Joe Gomez, Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, as expected, were all missing.
Liverpool welcome Qarabag to Anfield on Wednesday night knowing qualification for the knockout phase is already guaranteed.
However, there is still work to do in order to confirm a last-16 place which comes with the added bonus of avoiding a two-legged play-off tie in February.
A win over Qarabag would make certain a top-eight finish for Liverpool, while a draw could also be sufficient if results elsewhere fall in their favour, and likewise in the scenario of a defeat.
