Liverpool may face Manchester City on Sunday without six key players due to injuries sustained during their 2-0 victory over Real Madrid on Wednesday. Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate both picked up injuries, with Konate revealing on Instagram that he could be sidelined for an extended period due to a knee issue.
“Picking up this injury after such a great game is frustrating,” Konate wrote. “I’ll start my recovery now and promise to come back stronger. Thank you for the amazing support at Anfield. Inshallah, we’ll keep pushing forward, and I’ll be supporting the team every step of the way.”
Bradley is believed to have sustained a hamstring injury, potentially allowing Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez to step into the starting lineup. Alexander-Arnold, who recently recovered from his own hamstring issue, was an unused substitute against Real Madrid. Harvey Elliott, returning from a fractured foot, has not played since late August.
Liverpool had hoped to see a reduction in their injury list following the November international break, with players like Elliott expected to resume training. Federico Chiesa has participated in parts of training but remains unavailable, while Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker are still recovering from long-term injuries. Kostas Tsimikas is out with an ankle issue, leaving Jarell Quansah as the only senior defensive backup.
Despite these injuries, Liverpool has managed setbacks better than rivals like Manchester City and Arsenal, whose absences have garnered more media attention. Manager Arne Slot remains optimistic, highlighting the squad’s depth and adaptability. “This happens throughout a season,” Slot said after losing Konate and Bradley. “If they can’t play, someone else will step up, as they have all season.”
Slot emphasized that injuries only attract attention when results suffer, praising his squad for maintaining form despite missing key players. “We’re missing key players like Alisson, Jota, and Trent recently, but replacements have performed so well that people don’t talk about it,” he noted.
Liverpool’s injury challenges continue, with Konate and Bradley joining the list as players like Chiesa, Alisson, and Jota edge closer to recovery. As one player returns, another seems to fall. Nevertheless, Slot remains hopeful that his team will rise to the occasion on Sunday, focusing on keeping injuries from overshadowing their quest to maintain their Premier League lead.