28 October 2023 , 11:00
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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has let France boss Didier Deschamps know he is unhappy with his use Ibrahima Konate during the recent international break.
The Kop defender was left out of the side that thrashed Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday night having started in last weekend's Merseyside derby win over Everton.
Konate was substituted in the second half of that match, having widely been considered to stay on the pitch after a second half foul while on a yellow card. Everton players were furious that he didn't see red, and Klopp responded by immediately bringing off the ex-RB Leipzig man for Joel Matip.
Having not been at his best, he didn't feature at Anfield in midweek as Klopp elected to rest him ahead of a return to league action on Sunday. And when asked by French media why he didn't feature, the Reds chief had some pointed words for his international manager.
Klopp, speaking to RMC Sport, declared: “He did not start tonight. He’s not even in the squad.
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"I love absolutely everything about Ibou, but the problem is that Ibou has injury problems from time to time, and Monsieur Deschamps played him 90 and 87 minutes in the two games so we’ve used this time now to give him a little rest. He could have played tonight of course but he has to play on Sunday again.
"I told Ibou, tell Monsieur Deschamps, that’s how you rest a player. Not just three minutes. But we are more than happy with Ibou. [He's a] fantastic boy and a super player and France can be really happy to have him.”
Liverpool face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday, looking to keep up the pressure on top-of-the-table Tottenham Hotspur, following their Friday night win at Crystal Palace.