Ederson has been ruled out of Manchester City's top-of-the-table clash with Liverpool on Sunday, Pep Guardiola has confirmed.

The Brazilian goalkeeper was forced off with a thigh injury at half-time in the 1-1 draw with Atalanta and was replaced with Claudio Bravo, who was later sent off.

Defender Kyle Walker ended the night in goal.

"He's not able to play. I don't know when [he will be]," Guardiola told a news conference on Friday.

"We have another top keeper. Claudio Bravo can do it too. We won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, thanks to Claudio. He is an exceptional keeper."

Bravo will be suspended for the next Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk and has not started a Premier League game since May 2018.

"Why shouldn't we be confident with my players? I wouldn't like to be a player when my manager has doubts over me," Guardiola added.

"I see him every day in training, I know how good he is. We are not going to lose because of Claudio. He has played many years at the top level. I respect the guy. It's easy to point at Claudio, but in his first season, the team was not at the top level. It was not good.

"All the players are in our squad because we have incredible confidence with them."

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Following Bravo's dismissal in midweek, Walker was nominated to take the gloves for the final nine minutes. He saved a late free kick from Ruslan Malinovskyi to earn praise from his manager.

Meanwhile, City have asked Liverpool for assurances there will no repeat of the attack on their bus when the teams meet, sources have told ESPN FC.

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The City team bus was attacked with cans, bottles and flares as it made its way to Anfield for the Champions League quarterfinal first leg in April 2018.

Asked whether he was concerned about the situation, Guardiola said: "No, but hopefully it won't happen again. The police knew it for the Champions League game and didn't do anything. Hopefully it will be an incredible game and the same that happened two seasons ago won't happen."

Guardiola's men travel to Anfield six points behind the leaders and without a win there since 2003 but the City boss said the race would not be over if his side lost.

"I don't know. In November, it [title race] never ends. We still have a lot of games to play, we have to fight until the end," he added.

"But if we lose, it will be more difficult, they lost just one game last season and none this season, so it would be difficult.

"Anfield speaks for itself, but it is more for the quality of the team and what they do. Right now it is the toughest stadium in Europe.

"I like it, I love it. This is why we are involved in this business, to play in these games and stadiums. Liverpool are a real complete team, as a club, organisation, players. We need a rival like this after winning back-to-back titles."