Premier League leaders Liverpool have been handed a double injury blow, which could potentially impact the title race with Arsenal and Manchester City.
The Reds were in Champions League action on Wednesday night, coming out as 2-0 winners over Real Madrid. Goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo saw Arne Slot’s team take all three points.
However, the manager will now be sweating over the fitness of Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley ahead of what could be a crucial Premier League clash against Man City on Sunday. Bradley was forced off in the second half after an impressive performance against Kylian Mbappe.
After the final whistle, central defender Konate went down in pain. He received treatment from the club physios on the pitch before slowly limping down the tunel.
The injuries add to a growing list for Liverpool including Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, Kostas Tsimikas and Federico Chiesa. Speaking after the game, Slot gave the latest on the two players.
When asked if he knew more about the injuries, Slot said, via the Liverpool Echo: “No, not yet. I know where they have pain, but how bad or how good it is difficult to judge so close after the game.
“But this is what happens during the season. We missed Jota today, we missed Alisson today, we missed Kostas today, Trent couldn’t play from the start. This happens.
“I’m really hoping both of them are available to play because we want them all available, but if not someone else has to step up and until now this season everybody I’ve selected to start has shown up.
“That’s also what is going to happen on Sunday if they can play, and if they can’t play then other ones will start.”
Liverpool currently sit top of the Premier League table, eight points clear of Man City. Pep Guardiola’s side go into the game winless in their last six games in all competitions, having been pegged back from 3-0 up by Feyenoord on Tuesday night.
Arsenal sit in fourth place of the table, nine points behind the Reds. The match between the two sides does give the Gunners the chance to close the gap on either or both sides, should they beat West Ham on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off).
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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