Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate close to tears as Real Madrid win takes unfortunate turn

Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate was left reeling on the ground and in need of treatment following the Reds’ emphatic victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo did the damage for Arne Slot’s side, who maintained their 100 per cent record in this year’s League Phase.

But it was at the opposite end where Liverpool looked the most comfortable, with Real Madrid failing to register a shot on target from open play until the 93rd minute.

The imperious Konate and centre-back partner Virgil van Dijk were at the heart of all things positive for Slot’s men, who became just the second team in eight matches to keep a clean sheet against Los Blancos.

However, ahead of Sunday’s potentially season-defining clash against Manchester City, hopes of securing a similar shut out might’ve been dashed after Konate appeared to pick up an injury late on.

The French international dropped to his haunches following the full-time whistle in Merseyside, with the Liverpool medical team quickly arriving on the scene to offer their assistance.

Konate eventually returned to his feet but was seen hobbling down the tunnel looking in clear discomfort.

Should he be unavailable for Sunday’s mammoth clash against the four-in-a-row champions, Slot will be forced into switching up his centre-back pairing for the first time since the opening game of the season.

Konate didn’t start Liverpool’s first match of the campaign against Ipswich Town, but was brought on at half-time by Slot and has been in the starting XI for every game since.

No team in the Premier League have conceded fewer goals than Liverpool this term, but given the division’s top scorer in Erlin Haaland is Anfield-bound this weekend, Konate will no doubt be doing all he can to be involved.

Konate injury aside, it’s the perfect start to a crucial week for Liverpool, who could go 11 points clear with a win over Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday.

Looking ahead to the weekend clash against City, Caoimhin Kelleher, who saved a penalty from Kylian Mbappe in the 2-0 victory, said: “I think confidence is high in the whole squad. We know City have had a tough few results, but what a team. We expect a really tough test but this is good confidence for the team and we will go again.”