Liverpool handed major boost as Ibrahima Konate avoids serious injury

Liverpool have received a fitness boost as scans have revealed defender Ibrahima Konate has avoided any serious injury after the Frenchman looked close to tears when leaving the pitch at half-time in the win over Brighton.

Konate has started every league game bar the season opener at Ipswich — when he came on at half-time in a tactical switch — which was the first time he had played as many as nine games in a row in his Liverpool career.

The 25-year-old was accidentally clattered by his defensive partner Virgil van Dijk at the end of the first half on Saturday and used his shirt to make a sling for his injured arm.

Konate was unable to continue and was