Liverpool sweating on the fitness of defensive duo ahead of Man City game | OneFootball

Liverpool's 2-0 Champions League victory over Real Madrid on Wednesday was cathartic and potentially costly as Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley both suffered injuries.

Bradley was singled out for praise by manager Arne Slot, locking Kylian Mbappe up throughout his 87 minutes on the pitch before pulling up holding his hamstring. Fellow defender Konate lasted the full match, but had to be helped off the pitch after the final whistle following a collision with Madrid substitute Endrick.

Immediately after the triumphant European tie, Slot revealed: "We know now where they have pain but it's difficult to judge so close after the game.

"This is what happens in the season. This happens. I'm really hoping both of them are available to play [Sunday] but if not, somebody else has to step up and so far everybody has stepped up so far this season."

Conor Bradley put his body on the line against Real Madrid / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages

Beyond the health of each individual, the importance of these potential absences is cranked up by Liverpool's next opponent; defending Premier League champions, Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's side may be winless in their last six matches and fresh from a humiliating collapse against Feyenoord in midweek, but the Reds can scarcely afford to ease up ahead of Sunday's clash at Anfield.

Bradley was replaced by Joe Gomez against Real Madrid, a solid if unspectacular alternative. First-choice right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold returned to the bench on Wednesday, but wasn't fit enough to start after sitting out two-and-a-half weeks with a hamstring injury.

Gomez could also fill in for Konate, while Jarell Quansah started the season in front of the French centre-back in Slot's pecking order. Over the months since, Konate has emphatically cemented his place alongside Virgil van Dijk, staking a claim to be one of the best defenders in the division.