Ibrahima Konate gives Liverpool big boost after injury absence
Ibrahima Konate has boosted Liverpool's momentum after their Champions League defeat by returning to training.
Konate has been sidelined since the FA Cup fourth round loss to Brighton and Hove Albion on January 29 after suffering a hamstring problem.
The France international missed the Premier League loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers and subsequent wins against Everton and Newcastle United, and was among the players absent from Tuesday's 5-2 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid at Anfield.
But Konate was back on the pitch at the AXA training center in Kirkby on Thursday as Jurgen Klopp's side ramped up preparations for Saturday night's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace.
Liverpool's 90-goal prodigy coached by Antoine Griezmann on his way to winning international titles and the Golden Boot
Liverpool may not enjoy their best season under Jurgen Klopp, with some of the club's star players continuing to underperform, but it's an entirely different story at the Reds' academy with several young players continue to attract attention. Stefan Bajcetic has stood out as the 18-year-old cemented his place in Liverpool's starting XI since the start of the year. A starter in the Reds' last seven games, he has made 15 appearances so far and even scored his first goal against Aston Villa in December.
Additionally, Ben Doak and Bobby Clark, the sons of former Newcastle United midfielder Lee Clark, have had the biggest impact after impressing at youth level, with both teenagers making their Premier League debuts this season and having 5 and 2 appearances at a higher level. .
However, they are not the only young players to make headlines this season, with several goalscorers also having eye-catching displays.
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BARCELONA - It should have been different this time, but Barcelona ended up feeling the same sinking in another European mecca.
The Catalan giants were once again knocked out of the continental arena, this time by Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Xavi Hernandez's side lost 2-1 (4-3 on aggregate) in the Europa League playoffs, despite a huge summer investment and consistent domestic form making them one of the main contenders. Good candidate to raise the championship trophy.
Barcelona won the Champions League in 2015, but the years that followed were disappointing and sometimes humiliating on and sometimes off the pitch.
Their loss to Erik ten Hag's side was more the first than the second - for games against Roma, Liverpool and Bayern Munich - but it still gave Barca hope for more. After their early exit from the Champions League, with Xavi blaming the strength of the group's opponents, the injuries of key players and the referee's ineffective decisions, they had a second chance. .
Winning the Spanish Super Cup in January ignited the desire to win more trophies, and while the Europa League is not their dream league, it is still a big goal.
Robert Lewandowski, the club's star summer signing, put Barcelona ahead with a penalty, but Fred equalized early in the second half and substitute Antony scored the winner. .
"It was a draw, it was Europe, they were decided by the little details and in the end we didn't control them," Xavi told Movistar.
"It was a huge disappointment for us, and now we have to focus on the remaining competitions."
Xavi could have complained about the bad luck that injured Pedri and Ousmane Dembele and suspended Gavi, but he knew that no apology would be accepted this time. Defender Jules Kounde agrees with his coach that being eliminated is more of a disappointment than a defeat.
“I think disappointed (that's the word), because we had a lot of hope. I don't think it was a defeat, because we played," Kounde said.
"It was two equal games, we played against one of the stronger and more fit teams. I think it's still a young team, we keep growing, I think we've improved. We will continue to develop and improve.
Xavi has repeatedly said he needs to win trophies this season to stay in charge, after Barcelona bought Kounde, Raphinha and Lewandowski last summer, triggering various other 'financial levers'. each other to promote agreements.
By selling the future television rights, President Joan Laporta and his board were betting that success would be immediate, so the risk would be worth it.
Conceding just seven goals in 22 La Liga games and eight points behind leaders Madrid, there's no doubt Barcelona have improved.
In European football, however, their pain is still there – they have conceded 16 goals in eight games, between the Champions League and Europa League.
"We feel much better than we did last season, obviously we tried our best," Xavi said. "We faced Inter, Bayern and Manchester United, big rivals. In the end, we lost to them.
"Next year we have to try again, be more competitive and more self-critical, which is important to show that we can compete in Europe too."
Like rubbing salt on the wound, old enemy, former Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, was present to save Lewandowski's shot in injury time and seal the victory for United.
Barcelona's next big game is against rivals Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg next Thursday, and once again they have to choose.
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