Conor Bradley injury “big blow” for Arne Slot: ‘I don’t like to play Szoboszlai at right-back’

Liverpool defender Conor Bradley has suffered a significant knee injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season, dealing a major blow to manager Arne Slot's defensive options[1][4]. The 22-year-old right-back collapsed in stoppage time during Thursday's 0-0 Premier League draw at Arsenal, requiring a stretcher to leave the pitch[1][2].

Scans confirmed damage to bone and ligaments in his left knee, but ruled out an ACL tear. Bradley is scheduled for surgery soon, followed by rehabilitation at the AXA Training Centre, with no specific return timeline provided by the club[1][3][4]. Reports indicate he will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign, though he could potentially recover for Northern Ireland's World Cup play-off against Italy in March and the tournament itself if they qualify[1][3].

The injury sparked controversy when Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli pushed the prone Bradley, prompting a brawl and a yellow card for the Brazilian, who later apologized publicly and privately[1][2][5]. Bradley had already made 21 appearances this season despite earlier hamstring issues[1].

Slot now faces a right-back crisis, describing the loss as a "big blow." With Trent Alexander-Arnold departed, options are limited: summer signing Jeremie Frimpong (injury-prone), Joe Gomez (returning from hamstring problems), and youngsters like Calvin Ramsay. Slot reluctantly used midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones at right-back this season, stating, "I don’t like to play Szoboszlai at right-back," highlighting his preference for natural defenders[1].

This is Liverpool's third major defensive injury, following teenage centre-back Giovanni Leoni's ACL tear and striker Alexander Isak's broken leg, thinning Slot's backline to Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, and versatile Gomez[3][5]. Frimpong is expected to anchor the position, but the squad's depth remains a concern amid a packed schedule[5].

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