LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot expressed optimism regarding Ibrahima Konate’s condition after the center-back departed during halftime in Saturday’s 2-1 victory against Brighton due to an apparent arm injury. Despite being in considerable discomfort, Slot is hopeful that the injury is not severe.

Konate exited the pitch visibly in distress, using his shirt to support his left arm after an incident in which teammate Virgil van Dijk inadvertently stepped on his forearm during a corner kick.

While discussing the injury in his post-match press conference, Slot mentioned that it was premature to determine how serious the injury might be. He clarified that the defender had not yet been taken to a hospital, which could be a positive sign: “We don’t know yet. He had a lot of pain, but he hasn’t been to the hospital yet, and maybe it is not even necessary to go to the hospital, I don’t know,” Slot commented. He acknowledged the challenge of accurately assessing injuries in the immediate aftermath. Slot added, “Let’s hope he can be with us as soon as possible because he had a big impact on our season until now.”

Konate’s performances thus far this season have been instrumental for Liverpool. The recent triumph over Brighton has propelled Slot’s team to the top of the Premier League standings, putting them two points ahead of rivals Manchester City. The team will be eager for Konate’s quick recovery as they aim to maintain their lead.