Konaté offered to return early after father's death, Slot reveals

Arne Slot said Ibrahima Konaté cut short compassionate leave to help Liverpool and returned to score as Liverpool came from behind to beat Newcastle 4-1.

Arne Slot said Ibrahima Konaté returned early from compassionate leave following the recent death of his father to help Liverpool during a defensive crisis. Konaté had been due to return later in the week but rejoined the squad on Wednesday and trained twice before starting against Newcastle. He scored his first Premier League goal at Anfield and was emotional after the goal. Slot described teammates and fans showing clear appreciation for his return. Key facts: - Konaté was on compassionate leave after his father's death and had not planned to play against Newcastle. - He returned to the squad on Wednesday, trained twice, and started the match. - Konaté scored his first Premier League goal at Anfield and was visibly emotional after scoring. - Liverpool recovered to a 4-1 comeback win over Newcastle. - Slot praised Hugo Ekitike for two goals that transformed the game and noted Ekitike’s speed and off-the-ball work-rate. - Newcastle sit tenth in the table after the defeat, and manager Eddie Howe said the team did not defend well enough. Summary: Konaté's early return coincided with a strong team performance and drew visible appreciation from teammates and supporters. Undetermined at this time.