Conor Bradley season over after Liverpool confirm 'significant knee injury'

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Liverpool defender Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the rest of the season after scans confirmed he has suffered a significant knee injury that will require surgery. The 22-year-old right-back was hurt late in the 0-0 Premier League draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, going down off the ball in stoppage time before being stretchered off.

The club have confirmed that Bradley will undergo an operation in the coming days, followed by a lengthy period of rehabilitation at the AXA Training Centre. While Liverpool are not placing an official timeframe on his return, it has been made clear that his campaign is effectively over, representing a major setback for Arne Slot’s side.

Further assessment has shown that, although Bradley has avoided an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, there is serious damage to bone and ligaments in his left knee. The severity of the problem means he will also miss Northern Ireland’s crucial World Cup play-off against Italy in March, and his availability for the World Cup itself, should they qualify, is highly doubtful.

The incident that led to the injury has drawn additional attention because of the involvement of Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli. As Bradley lay on the turf in clear discomfort, Martinelli threw the ball at him and attempted to drag him from the pitch in search of a late Arsenal advantage, sparking an angry reaction from Liverpool players. The Brazilian was booked and has since apologised both publicly and privately.

Bradley’s absence is a significant blow for Liverpool, with the young full-back having enjoyed a breakthrough season and making over 20 appearances in all competitions. His injury further stretches Slot’s defensive options on the right, increasing pressure on Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez to cover the position over the remainder of the season.