Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has provided a fitness update on Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley ahead of their Premier League clash against West Ham United. The Reds will face the Hammers at the London Stadium on December 29 for their final match of 2024.
They have a fairly injury-free first team, with most of their players fit and ready for the upcoming match. However, aside from Dominik Szoboszlai, who will be suspended for the game after picking up five yellow cards, Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate are the only unavailable players. The former picked up a hamstring injury, while the latter was dealt a knee injury.
Arne Slot has now provided an update on the duo, saying that they would not be available to play West Ham. He told the press (via DaveOCKOP on X):
“They will not be back for West Ham United. There is a week in between (Man Utd). Let's see how close they are then. It is difficult for me to tell you at the moment because they don't train with the group yet. Hopefully in the next few days they come closer to that situation.
"Ibou has been out for 5-6 weeks maybe, Conor even longer. Or just as long, same amount. They are in competition with players who are completely fit and are doing really well. So I have to make the right judgment the moment they are back with the team.”
Conor Bradley has been injured since the start of December, with his hamstring injury keeping him out for the past month. Ibrahima Konate, meanwhile, has been out of contention since he was injured in their 2-0 UEFA Champions League win over Real Madrid at Anfield on November 27.
Slot believes it is "too early" to talk about Liverpool winning the Premier League title
Arne Slot believes it is still too early to discuss Liverpool's potentially winning the Premier League title this season. The Reds have enjoyed a brilliant start to the season, losing just one league game out of 17 while winning 13 ahead of their West Ham clash.
Liverpool sit at the top of the Premier League table with 42 points and a game in hand over second-placed Chelsea. They also have a seven-point gap ahead of the Blues. However, Arne Slot isn't focused on the title just yet as he told the press (via Supersport):
"If you are in this game for a long time like the players and I am, then 20 games before the end you don't look at it as there are so many challenges ahead of you. Injuries and a bit of bad luck can happen to any team, it is far too early to be already celebrating –- but it is nice for us to be where we are."
After West Ham, Liverpool will face Manchester United at Anfield on January 5 in their first match of 2025. They will follow this up with matches in the EFL Cup and FA Cup against Tottenham Hotspur and Accrington Stanley, respectively.