IBRAHIM KANOTE CONFIRMS HIS FATHER HAS DIED IN HEARTBREAKING POST AFTER MISSING LIVERPOOL'S 3-0 WIN OVER MARSEILLE

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has confirmed the death of his father with a heartbreaking post on Instagram. 

Konate, 26, missed Liverpool's 3-0 win away in Marseille on Wednesday night having returned to France separately from the team for personal reasons. 

Without divulging the nature of his separation from the squad, Arne Slot had said it was 'really sad', when asked about the omission. 

And Konate has now confirmed that his father, Hamady, has passed away. 

On Instagram, Konate shared the news and funeral details with his 3.2 million followers. It read: 'Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return.

'Janazah (Funeral Prayer) For our father Hamady Konaté will take place on Friday, 23 January, after Jumu’ah prayer at In Sha Allah (12:45 pm).

It went on: 'The Messenger of Allah said: "There is no deceased person over whom a group of Muslims numbering one hundred prays, all of them interceding for him, except that their intercession is accepted."' 

The address of the funeral was given and the message was signed off from 'The Konate family'. 

When asked about the situation on Wednesday evening, Slot had said: 'No, first of all for the family matter, why he is not here, it is very sad for him. Second of all, we miss him because I mainly played him and [Virgil van Dijk].'

Joe Gomez came in for Konate for the impressive victory over Roberto de Zerbi's side in the Champions League. 

And as it stands, no update has been given about when Konate might return to his club, though it seems highly unlikely he will play any part in the game against Bournemouth this weekend. 

Konate's form has improved significantly in recent weeks after patchy displays earlier in the season and Liverpool are now unbeaten in 13 matches across all competitions. 

Victory over the Cherries would help consolidate their place in the top four and the game is the late afternoon kick-off on Saturday.

- WILL GRIFFEE

LIVERPOOL BEATEN BY PLYMOUTH ARGYLE IN FA CUP FOURTH ROUND

Liverpool exited the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday as they were beaten 1-0 by Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.

The Championship hosts netted the only goal of the game in the second half of the fourth-round encounter.

Striker Ryan Hardie converted a penalty after Harvey Elliott was penalised for a handball in his own box.

Team news

Joe Gomez returned as Arne Slot made multiple changes for the encounter with the Pilgrims. Diogo Jota was also included in the XI, with only goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher retaining a place in the team.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Gomez (Mabaya, 10 [Nunez, 58]), Endo, Diaz, Chiesa, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, McConnell, Quansah, Nyoni (Kone-Doherty, 76).

Unused subs: Jaros, Jones, Nallo, Ngumoha, Norris, Young.

First half

The hosts started on the front foot inside the first minute as Hardie latched on to a forward header to drive at goal, though Gomez was quickly across to block the effort.

Trey Nyoni quickly returned fire at the opposite end but the Plymouth back line got in front of his attempt.

In minute 10 the Reds were forced into a substitution, Gomez having to bring his return to action to a close early due to injury, with Isaac Mabaya his replacement.

Darko Gyabi also saw a low drilled shot from a corner blocked in another opening for the hosts a short while later, though Liverpool were otherwise largely unchallenged in their own third.

Both sides were struggling to take real control of the ball and the game as they battled for possession for much of the first half-hour.

Plymouth had appeals for a penalty waved away as Kostas Tsimikas tangled with Mustapha Bundu in the area with the striker advancing.

Ahead of the interval, meanwhile, James McConnell had Liverpool’s best opening of the game saved by goalkeeper Conor Hazard.

The midfielder’s shot deflected off Gyabi and was heading into the bottom corner until the stopper’s intervention down to his left.

In the last of the action, Gyabi himself fired a shot over the bar from inside the box in what was a competitive opening 45 minutes.

Second half

Plymouth started the second period on top with Callum Wright seeing a cutback and shot blocked over the bar by Wataru Endo.

Seven minutes after the interval, however, the home side had a lead from the penalty spot via striker Hardie.

Gyabi hooked the ball over his head in the box and the ball hit the raised arm of Elliott, allowing Plymouth’s No.9 to convert from 12 yards out as he sent Kelleher the wrong way.

Darwin Nunez was introduced from the bench just before the hour in response, replacing earlier substitute Mabaya.

Plymouth again went close to adding to the scoreline, Hardie proving the threat once more, seeing a shot strike the outside of the post after a free-kick was lifted into the area from deep.

Liverpool pushed for a leveller, Federico Chiesa delivering low into the box from the right flank to find Luis Diaz, though the winger was unable to connect fully with a sweeping shot as the defence retreated.

In the closing stages, McConnell fired wide of the goal in a good opening for the Reds, with goalkeeper Hazard having come to gather a ball forward.

The home stopper failed to collect and the Liverpool midfielder took the ball down before shooting wide of the post from distance.

In added time, Jota forced a strong save from the goalkeeper, the No.20 volleying on the turn from the edge of the box, with his shot heading for the top corner of the net.

And in the final seconds of the game, Nunez again worked Hazard, as he tipped a close-range header over the bar after McConnell put the ball back across goal from another free-kick.

It was as close as the Reds would come to levelling the contest, with the hosts earning passage into the fifth round of the competition.

- Joe Urquhart at Home Park

LIVERPOOL CENTER-BACK & ENGLAND DEFENDER TO UNDERGOE A SURGERY KNEE SCAN

 

England defender & Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is set for a knee surgery scan.