Liverpool defender Conor Bradley will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a significant knee injury during Thursday's goalless draw at Arsenal. The Northern Ireland international is set to undergo surgery in the coming days for damage to the bone and ligaments in his left knee, although it is not an ACL injury.
The 21-year-old right-back was carried off late in the match at the Emirates Stadium after being shoved by Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, who later apologised on social media. The Brazilian wrote he was 'deeply sorry' for the incident, which sparked a flashpoint that resulted in yellow cards for Martinelli and Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate.
Bradley had made 21 appearances this season, having previously missed several matches with a hamstring problem. His absence leaves manager Arne Slot with limited options at right-back, with Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez both carrying injury concerns, and neither considered natural in the position. Slot has previously used midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones there.
Liverpool confirmed the injury in a statement, saying: 'Conor Bradley has sustained a significant knee injury. No timeframe is being placed on his return to playing at this stage of the process.' The setback now leaves Bradley in a race to be fit for this summer's World Cup, should Northern Ireland qualify through the play-offs, where they face Italy and potentially the winners of Wales versus Bosnia Herzegovina.
