Liverpool's Conor Bradley out for season with knee injury

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Liverpool defender Conor Bradley will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a serious knee injury in the 0-0 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The 22-year-old right-back went down off the ball in stoppage time and required a stretcher to leave the pitch, prompting immediate concern from head coach Arne Slot and his teammates.

Subsequent medical scans confirmed that Bradley did not suffer an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear, but they revealed significant damage to the bone and ligaments in his left knee. Despite avoiding an ACL rupture, the extent of the injury is severe enough that Liverpool expect him to be sidelined for the rest of the campaign, dealing a major blow to Slot’s defensive options.

The incident that led to Bradley’s injury also sparked controversy on the pitch. As Liverpool were trying to see out the match, Arsenal substitute Gabriel Martinelli threw the ball at Bradley and then attempted to push him off the pitch while he was lying injured, as Arsenal searched desperately for a late winner. The clash led to a brief scuffle involving players from both sides before Bradley was eventually taken off.

Martinelli’s actions drew widespread criticism and he was booked by the referee for his role in the confrontation. In the aftermath, the Brazilian forward issued both public and private apologies to Bradley, acknowledging that he had misread the situation in the heat of the moment and expressing regret for his behaviour.

Bradley’s absence adds to Liverpool’s defensive problems this season, with the club already having lost teenage centre-back Giovanni Leoni to an ACL injury. The loss of a dynamic, emerging right-back who had become an important squad member is seen as a significant setback as Liverpool continue to compete on multiple fronts.