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Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has travelled back to France due to family matters and is a doubt for Wednesday's crucial Champions League clash with Marseille, according to reports. The centre-half was missing from the Reds' public training session at their Kirkby base, though it is unclear whether he will rejoin the squad in France ahead of tomorrow's fixture.

Arne Slot is under mounting scrutiny following their 1-1 draw with Burnley, which marked the first occasion since 1981 that they have failed to defeat any of the Premier League's promoted sides. He will be hoping to have Konate available after several injuries to his backline this season.

The Athletic claim that Konate has travelled to France to be with his family and at this moment it is uncertain whether he will rejoin the group in time for the match.

Liverpool have also jetted across the English Channel, as they face a trip to Marseille, facing Roberto De Zerbi's side.

The Reds held their usual open training session on Tuesday, before flying to France, but Konate was absent from the group.

Slot is already without both Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, who suffered long-term injuries this season. If Konate does miss the match with Marseille, either Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo or Ryan Gravenberch could fill in alongside Virgil van Dijk.

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Earlier this season, Slot claimed that Konate had been "on the crime scene" too often during matches, referring to the number of mistakes he had been involved in.

But weeks later, the Dutchman singled out Konate for praise as Liverpool made attempts to get their wretched season back on track. He said: "I would like to highlight one player because he has been highlighted in a negative way and that is Konate. I don't think him and Virgil made a mistake at all [against Inter Milan]."

Konate's contract is up at the end of the season and there is no suggestion that a breakthrough is close, despite being a key player and one of Liverpool's starters in recent years.

The Reds missed out on an alternative to Konate, Marc Guehi, in the January transfer market, as just the Frenchman, Van Dijk and Gomez remain as senior health options for Slot this season.