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Liverpool is dealing with several significant injury concerns and absences, with the situation worsened by a fresh setback for Conor Bradley. The young right-back suffered a serious-looking knee injury, was stretchered off and later seen in a brace, leaving his return date currently unknown. This is a major blow given his emergence as first-choice in that position.
In attack, big-money signing Alexander Isak is out after surgery on a complex lower-leg/ankle injury that included a fibula fracture. He is expected to miss a couple of months but is still hoped to feature again before the end of the 2025-26 season. His absence deprives Arne Slot of a key goalscoring option and forces further reshuffles in the forward line.
Hugo Ekitike, one of Liverpool’s standout performers in December, is sidelined with a minor hamstring problem. Slot has indicated that he should not be out for long, but the congested fixture schedule may delay his return slightly as the staff act cautiously. Ekitike’s layoff comes at a time when Liverpool are already light in attack.
Beyond these headline issues, Liverpool are also managing other injuries and availability problems elsewhere in the squad, including midfield and international absences. The cumulative effect is a thinning of options across the pitch, particularly in attack and at right-back. Slot is therefore being forced to rely more heavily on squad depth, younger players and tactical flexibility while key figures work their way back to fitness.
