Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a “serious knee injury” during the goalless draw with Arsenal. The Northern Ireland international is expected to be executed under the knife in the coming days after being carried away on a stretcher at the Emirates Stadium.
A follow-up investigation revealed that Bradley had survived a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Nevertheless, he damaged both bones and ligaments in his left knee. He will begin his recovery at the AXA training center following surgery, but the club has declined to reveal when he will return. However, it is believed the defender will miss the remainder of the Reds’ campaign due to injury.
“Liverpool FC can confirm that Conor Bradley has sustained a serious knee injury. The right-back sustained the injury in the closing stages of Thursday night’s Premier League game away to Arsenal,” the club said in a statement.
“Bradley will undergo surgery in the next few days, after which he will begin a rehabilitation period at the AXA Training Center.
“At this stage in the process, there is no deadline for his return to play.”
Bradley will also be ruled out of Northern Ireland’s World Cup play-off campaign. Northern Ireland are scheduled to play Italy in the semi-finals in March, with the winner facing either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina for a place in next summer’s final.
It is too early to tell whether Bradley will be able to recover in time for the World Cup if Northern Ireland qualify.
Although an anterior cruciate ligament injury was avoided, Bradley’s absence was a major setback for Liverpool as Giovanni Leoni and Alexander Isak were added to the long-term injured list.
Jeremy Frimpong is currently Liverpool’s only natural senior right-back, a position that has posed problems for Arne Slott all season.
Joe Gomez could also fill in at right-back, but due to Leoni’s own ACL injury, he is currently the only centre-back for Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
Players like Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones have been used as interim solutions at right-back this season, while Calvin Ramsey, who has been included in several matchday squads recently, still remains at the Reds.
However, the Scotland international is yet to make a Premier League appearance for Liverpool, having been plagued by injuries and failed loan moves since joining Anfield in the summer of 2022.
Defensive options in the slot are currently very limited, with the Dutch manager only having six senior players capable of covering four positions across the final line.
Bradley has made 21 appearances for the Reds this season and will aim to secure his place as the club’s main right-back following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid.
However, he has suffered from some fitness issues in the past.
Gabriel Martinelli’s knee injury against Arsenal, controversial due to his handling of the defender’s situation, represents the latest and most serious setback of his Liverpool career to date.
