Football Today
·28 novembre 2024
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·28 novembre 2024
Liverpool are closely monitoring the fitness of Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate after both players sustained injuries in Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League.The defenders picked up their issues late in the match at Anfield, casting doubt on their availability for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Manchester City.Manager Arne Slot provided an update on Thursday, admitting their status remains uncertain as the medical team continues assessments.Bradley was substituted in the second half after appearing to pull his hamstring, while Konaté showed visible discomfort at full-time and was unable to join his teammates in the customary post-match celebrations.Slot acknowledged that neither incident bodes well but stopped short of ruling them out for the weekend.Speaking to reporters, Slot said: “They are still being assessed, so it’s difficult to say where they are. Conor had to come off, and Ibou didn’t leave the pitch as he should after such a fantastic performance. It’s never a good sign when this happens, but we’ll see in the coming days.”Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to step in if Bradley is unavailable. The vice-captain, who missed the starting lineup against Real Madrid, was an unused substitute on Wednesday and has been declared fit to feature from the start against City.Slot confirmed: “Yes, Trent is ready to start.”Liverpool enter Sunday’s showdown with the chance to move 11 points clear of the defending champions. Despite a challenging start to the season for Manchester City, Slot dismissed complacency, highlighting the squad depth Liverpool has relied upon amid injury concerns.“This is what happens in a season,” Slot noted. “We missed Trent, Jota, and Alisson against Madrid. But whenever someone has stepped in, they have performed. If Conor and Ibou can’t play, others will step up on Sunday.”The win over Real Madrid maintained Liverpool’s flawless European campaign, marking their fifth victory in as many games and their first over the reigning champions since 2009.Bradley and Konate’s standout performances contributed to a resolute defensive display that included a penalty save by backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.As preparations continue for the high-stakes Premier League encounter, Liverpool will hope their injury setbacks do not overshadow their impressive momentum.