Conor Bradley ruled out for season with significant knee injury

Liverpool defender Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a significant knee injury in the goalless draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night.^[2][3]

The 22-year-old right-back was injured late in the game and had to be carried off after an incident on the touchline, and subsequent scans revealed damage to the bone and ligaments in his left knee.^[2][3] Liverpool have confirmed that Bradley will undergo surgery in the coming days, ending his participation in the club’s domestic campaign.^[2][3] Crucially, the club stressed that the issue is not an ACL injury, but the extent of the damage still requires an operation and a lengthy spell on the sidelines.^[2][3]

Bradley’s setback is a major blow for both Liverpool and Northern Ireland.^[2][3] The defender will miss Northern Ireland’s World Cup play-off tie against Italy in March and now faces a race to be fit for this summer’s World Cup should his country qualify.^[2][3] Before the injury, Bradley had enjoyed a breakthrough season, making around 20 first-team appearances despite an earlier hamstring problem that kept him out for a spell.^[3]

The incident that led to the injury also sparked controversy on the night. Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli threw the ball at Bradley and tried to push him off the pitch, accusing him of time-wasting, which triggered a confrontation involving several players.^[3] Both Martinelli and Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté were booked in the aftermath, and Martinelli later issued a public apology on social media, saying he was “deeply sorry” for his actions.^[3]

Bradley’s absence leaves head coach Arne Slot short of specialist options at right-back.^[3] Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez provide cover but both have had recent injury problems and neither is seen as an ideal, long-term solution in the role.^[3] Slot has already been forced at times this season to deploy midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones in the position, and Bradley’s season-ending injury is likely to intensify questions about depth and recruitment in Liverpool’s defensive ranks.^[3]