Ibrahima Konaté will be fully active again in “the next few weeks”, as reported by Andy Jones.

The Athletic reporter has shared the exciting update after the positive view of Virgil van Dijk, Diogo Jota and Bobby Firmino on the bench for Liverpool in the 2-0 Merseyside derby win.

Jurgen Klopp will sadly be without one of his most reliable players in Europe when it comes to hosting Real Madrid next Tuesday, but the No.4’s availability is sure to raise the level of his partnership , be it Joe Gomez or Joel Matip.

In the wider context of our pursuit of the top four footballers, we are starting to win key men back at the right time, which should hopefully mean we can build on an inspiring win over our City rivals.

Of course, we shouldn’t celebrate too much given Everton’s obvious struggles on the pitch, but it was a victory that most closely resembled Liverpool of old and should provide a platform for a challenge out of the four. first. Diogo Jota and Bobby Firmino will provide Klopp with exactly what he is looking for in terms of defense up front, while a rested Jordan Henderson has provided us with both leadership and solidity in midfield.

It’s still hard to argue we could clinch the money in the form of the Champions League this season (although you can never rule us out in Europe), but there’s no reason to think Liverpool will be out. next season of the race for European football. Our competitors are slipping.

Also…

Liverpool is about to see another name on Jürgen Klopp ‘shortlist’ as FSG decision justified

Liverpool had a shortlist of managers when they appointed Jurgen Klopp in 2015. FSG made the right decision, but another name is also doing very well.

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Fenway Sports Group had a big decision to make in 2015. Owning Liverpool for around five years, the Reds struggled to succeed on the pitch and Brendan Rodgers had just been sacked.

FSG needed to find a replacement for the Northern Irishman who could bring important silverware to Anfield. After analyzing the landscape of potential options, three names topped Liverpool’s shortlist in Jurgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti and Eddie Howe.

Candidates were vetted behind the scenes and after much deliberation, Klopp was given the role and the rest is history. Over his seven and a half years to date, the German manager has won virtually every trophie, from the Premier League to the Champions League and everything in between.

Klopp was an undeniable success. His love for the club has grown over the years and seems to be perfect. The 55-year-old is in many ways a foreign Scouser and has even been awarded the Freedom of the City of Liverpool as a reward for his outstanding work with the Reds.

Now regarded as one of the best in the world at what they do, the FSG has no regrets about the management decision they made in 2015, but this weekend they will receive a reminder of what could have been. Klopp’s men will travel to Tyneside on Saturday afternoon, with a high-profile duel against Newcastle United on the agenda. The Toons are currently enjoying a memorable campaign and are fourth in the Premier League, with next season’s Champions League looking like a real possibility.

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Strangely, Howe is the man at the helm, competing with Klopp for the Liverpool job almost a decade ago. English was named by the Magpies in late 2021 and has made a number of notable improvements. Newcastle United have scored fewer goals than any other top-flight English side so far this season, and by some margin. They conceded just 13 goals, putting them five goals ahead of second-best Arsenal, who are currently flying high in the Premier League.

The Toon has shown energy, desire, teamwork and struggle since Howe took charge, and many of his players are better than they were before his appointment, particularly Joelinton and Miguel Almirón.

The Magpies will be a severe test for Liverpool this weekend, but the very fact that Howe is doing well casts a positive light on the FSG and their ability to identify managers who are better than average.

In general, managers tend to come and go with little impact on form and performances, apart from a short-term upfront boost, but Liverpool look capable of picking the names that exceed their squads’ expectations more than the sum of the numbers. their parts. Rodgers, who has never won a trophy at Anfield, also fits that bill due to his time at Swansea City.

The Reds are lucky Klopp isn’t going anywhere anytime soon – having recently expressed his commitment to the cause – but when he finally leaves Liverpool will do well to find a capable heir to the throne.

Regardless of how much Howe has impressed lately, Klopp hopes to remind him of exactly why the FSG favored his signing in 2015. There’s a reason the latter got the job, and this weekend fans are hoping to see him. .