Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté has expressed his frustration after sustaining an injury just days before their crucial Premier League encounter against Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City will travel to Anfield this Sunday for a highly anticipated clash. City come into the game on the back of a frustrating Champions League outing, where they squandered a three-goal lead to draw against Feyenoord in midweek.

The result extended City’s winless streak to six matches across all competitions, a dismal run that includes five consecutive defeats before the draw. In stark contrast, Liverpool maintained their impressive form with a midweek victory over Real Madrid in Europe, further solidifying their strong start to the season. The Reds currently sit eight points ahead of City in the Premier League table, adding extra weight to Sunday’s contest.

Liverpool's triumph over Real Madrid came at a cost, as Konaté sustained a knee injury in the closing moments of the match. The French centre-back required treatment after the final whistle and was seen hobbling as he made his way down the tunnel.

Days later, Konaté confirmed via Instagram that he would be sidelined for the foreseeable future, ruling him out of Sunday’s game against Manchester City. While no specific timeline for his recovery has been disclosed, Konaté remains determined to return stronger.

He wrote:

"So frustrating to pick up this injury right at the end of a great game on Wednesday night. Now we start the recovery process, but one thing I promise is I will come back and be the best I can be once again.

"Thank you for the amazing support at Anfield. Inshallah, we will keep going, and I will support the team every step of the way."

With Konaté ruled out, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp will be forced to reshuffle his defence. The likely options to partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back are either Joe Gomez or the young prospect Jarell Quansah.

As Liverpool prepare to host Manchester City, the absence of Konaté presents a significant challenge for the Reds as they aim to maintain their momentum in the Premier League title race.