Arne Slot provides update on Ibrahima Konate injury after Liverpool star fights back tears

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has issued an update on Ibrahima Konate after the defender left the pitch after his side knocked out Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night. The France international was in fine form at the heart of the Reds' defense but fought back tears on the pitch as he received the attention of Liverpool's medical staff after the final whistle.

Konate played the full 90 minutes alongside Virgil van Dijk as the Reds continued their 100% record in the Champions League this season.

Goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo were enough to secure a 2-0 victory, with Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah both missing penalties during the contest.

Liverpool lost right-back Conor Bradley to injury late in the match after the 21-year-old had a fine evening in the club's colors.

And Slot spoke about Bradley and Konate as he spoke to the media on Thursday ahead of his side's Premier League showdown with Manchester City this weekend. “They are still being evaluated, so it is difficult to see how they are doing,” explained the Dutchman.

“Let's wait and see, but it's never a good sign. Conor, we had to take him off, and Ibou didn't come off the pitch like he should after the fantastic game he played. This is not a good sign.

The former Feyenoord boss then offered positive news regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold, who returned to the bench against Real after missing Sunday's win over Southampton.

“Konate and Bradley are still being evaluated – [it’s still] so close to last night – and I've just come off the training ground, so we have to wait and see,” he explained. “Trent is fit enough to start, yes.”

And Slot then explained why he didn't speak in depth about the team's absences, adding: “Usually people only talk about injuries if the results aren't there, so it's good that people don't don't talk about it.

“But the moment you start losing it's a matter of kickoff times or injuries, but nine times out of ten it's the quality of the game plan or the quality of the other team If the substitutes do so well for our injured players, it's normal that they don't talk about injuries.

“I miss Alisson, [Diogo] Jota, Trent – players who had an impact on the results… But it's good that we don't talk about them much.

Liverpool's victory over Real means they are two points clear of Inter Milan at the top of the Champions League table. The Merseyside giants are also eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table and will aim to extend their lead when second-placed City visit Anfield on Sunday.