Liverpool injury comes at worst time after Arne Slot set challenge as January transfer hint made

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Conor Bradley has again been struck down by injury only weeks after Arne Slot had challenged the Liverpool defender to improve his durabilityArne Slot has been handed a new selection headache as Liverpool prepare to return to domestic action following the November international break. The Reds host Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but will do so without a natural senior right-back after the Dutchman confirmed Conor Bradley had suffered a muscle injury while away with Northern Ireland.With Jeremie Frimpong already sidelined because of a hamstring injury, Liverpool are set to be without the pair for the majority of the next three weeks.As a result, Slot will have to turn to a makeshift option for his side's next seven matches in the build-up to the Premier League festive period - and not for the first time.READ MORE: Sadio Mane admits why he really left Liverpool after considering move to Premier League rivalDominik Szoboszlai has been the Reds' standout player so far this season, but has had to fill in at right-back on a number of occasions due to previous injuries suffered by both Bradley and Frimpong.But with Slot confirming that Florian Wirtz is also sidelined with a muscle injury for the clash with Forest, the Liverpool head coach must decide between persisting with the Hungarian in midfield or selecting him in defence instead.If so, Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones would also be alternatives at right-back, while the likes of Wataru Endo and Calvin Ramsay could perhaps also be turned to if required.Regardless of which option Slot opts for, it is far from ideal for Liverpool to lose both their senior, natural right-back options for a considerable period of the season.And after losing Frimpong to a second hamstring injury of the season last month, Bradley's absence comes only a couple of weeks after Slot had challenged the 22-year-old to improve his durability ahead of what proved to be an eye-catching performance against Real Madrid."Stay fit!

We were just talking about Florian [Wirtz], we could put the same on Con, be able to play every three days at this intensity without getting injured."That's not been easy for him because he missed a big part of pre-season. And he's been unlucky that when I have started him a few times we were 1-0 down, and I thought I had to make an offensive substitution, and so I put Dominik Szoboszlai at full-back."But when we were a goal up, he played 90 minutes and that was against Everton and this Saturday [against Aston Villa]."I think he is progressing, he is getting fitter and fitter and is showing the potential he has, but the main thing for him will be being able to play every three days without getting injured."Bradley completed the full 90 minutes against Real Madrid before lasting 83 minutes in Liverpool's 3-0 loss to Man City prior to the international break.But after completing the full 90 minutes of Northern Ireland’s 1-0 loss to Slovakia, he was then withdrawn at half-time in their 1-0 victory over Luxembourg.No-one will be more frustrated with his latest lay-off than Bradley himself, especially coming at a time when he had a clear run to make the Reds’ right-back berth his own in the absence of Frimpong.It is somewhat cruel that he has struck down by injury only weeks after being set such a challenge by Slot, but it is not the first time the Northern Irishman has been left to curse untimely injury.Liverpool will have to make do without both right-backs in the meantime, with Slot admitting he might have to turn to players outside of their natural positions as a solution in the interim.But when playing down the necessity to sign a new centre-back in January, the Reds head coach did hint that Liverpool might need to prioritise strengthening in other positions when the transfer window re-opens."This is one of the questions I didn't expect, talking about signings and the winter break!" Slot said at his pre-match press conference ahead of the Reds' clash with Nottingham Forest.

Learn moreSky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.At first glance, coming before his injury update on Bradley, it was easy to assume such a claim could allude to Liverpool’s reported interest in Antoine Semenyo with the Bournemouth forward said to possess a £65m release clause in his contract that can be activated in January.But with the Reds once again being stung by injuries at right-back, perhaps Slot has another solution in mind after seeing Bradley struck down once more.Such is the cut-throat nature of football, as one door closes, another opens. A third could follow too, with Alisson Becker at least poised to return in goal after recovering from a hamstring injury.Bradley has ultimately fallen short only weeks after being challenged by Slot, reiterating the work he still needs to do to nail down a starting place once and for all.And while his replacement at right-back in the forthcoming weeks will likely not be a natural option, the battle to become Liverpool’s first-choice right-back following the summer departure of the long-serving Trent Alexander-Arnold remains wide open as a result.