23:26, 31 Jan 2026, updated 23:27, 31 Jan 2026 By LEWIS STEELE, FOOTBALL REPORTER

Arne Slot thanked defender and goal-scorer Ibrahima Konate for cutting short his bereavement leave to help Liverpool beat Newcastle.

The France international had missed the last three matches after the sad loss of his father and was planning to return to England at the end of this week.

But having seen Liverpool's defensive injury issues – four were ruled out of this match – Konate told Slot he would return early and he scored in a 4-1 rout of Eddie Howe's side to add to a Hugo Ekitike double and one from Florian Wirtz.

'He had a very difficult two weeks and probably still has a difficult time,' said Slot. 'We spoke at the end of last week when he said he was planning to be back for the end of this week and it would have meant he could not play this game.

'But when he saw the problems we had defensively, he called me early this week and said, 'I want to be back to help the team against Newcastle'....