Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate has claimed that one of the club’s summer recruits effectively refused to take part in a gym session after training
It’s no secret that Arne Slot’s Liverpool have struggled at the start of their Premier League title defence.
The Reds currently sit eighth in the table, having picked up six wins and suffered five defeats in their opening 11 league games. Their losses include a disappointing home defeat to Manchester United at Anfield and another setback away to Manchester City at the Etihad.
So far, the club’s summer recruits—Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez—have yet to deliver the influence many expected.
One bright spot has been Hugo Ekitike, who has been Liverpool’s standout addition this season. The French forward has managed six goals and an assist in 16 matches since arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt for a fee that could rise to £79 million. Still, questions remain regarding his discipline, especially after his controversial red card in the Carabao Cup clash with Southampton.
The 23-year-old academy product from Reims was dismissed for picking up a second yellow card after removing his shirt during a goal celebration. That suspension kept him out of Liverpool’s trip to Crystal Palace—a match they ultimately lost 2–1 in September.
For now, Ekitike’s focus has shifted to international duty. France have already booked their place at the World Cup after a 4–0 victory over Ukraine, in which Ekitike also found the net on Thursday. With Kylian Mbappé withdrawn from the squad due to an ankle injury, Ekitike is expected to feature again in Sunday’s qualifier against Azerbaijan in Baku.
However, the Liverpool striker might not be thrilled with comments made by his club and national teammate, Ibrahima Konaté. Speaking to RMC, the defender suggested that Ekitike hasn’t always shown the best work ethic in the gym earlier this season.
Konaté shared:
“I challenged him when he arrived in Liverpool because the intensity here is different from the Bundesliga. We all went through that. He was struggling a bit in training.
One day we were meant to go to the gym—he didn’t want to. I asked him, ‘Do you want to play for the French national team?’ Two minutes later, he was in the gym (laughs).
I think that moment helped him turn a corner. I was very happy for him after his goal against Ukraine. He had a tough time at PSG and received a lot of criticism.”
