Liverpool defender Joel Matip will miss the rest of the season due to a foot injury sustained in the Merseyside derby.
The 28-year-old came off during the second half of the 0-0 draw with Everton on June 21st and is now set to miss the remaining seven Premier League games for the newly-crowned champions.
Matip told Liverpoolfc.com: "This season I will be not back on the pitch but for next season, I hope I’m going to be quite early a direct help for the team."
Matip started seven of the first nine league games of the current campaign but has only made a total of 13 appearances in all competitions this season, mainly due to a knee injury.
He was a regular for Jurgen Klopp's side towards the end of last season and started the Champions League final 2-0 win over Tottenham, setting up the second goal for Divock Origi.
Matip arrived on Merseyside from Schalke in the summer of 2016 and has had a few different spells on the sidelines due to injuries.
However, apart from this season, he has played 30 plus games each season.
Joe Gomez started alongside Virgil van Dijk in central defence for the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace so the England international is in line to get the nod against Manchester City on Thursday night.
It will be the first game for the Reds since securing their first league title in 30 years after City's failure to beat Chelsea last week.
With seven games to play, Klopp's side have the chance to beat the highest ever Premier League points total of 100, set by City in the 2017-18 season.
Liverpool have 86 points with seven games to play and have only dropped seven points all season.
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that his players will give the Liverpool players a guard of honour before the game at the Etihad Stadium.
After that match, Liverpool will face Aston Villa, Brighton, Burnley, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle.
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