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Liverpool have suffered a major blow after confirming that Conor Bradley will miss the remainder of the season following a serious knee injury sustained during Thursday’s goalless Premier League draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, with the 22-year-old right-back requiring surgery in the coming days.
Conor Bradley Faces Season-Ending Knee Surgery After Arsenal Injury Setback
The Northern Ireland international was carried off on a stretcher late in stoppage time after landing awkwardly near the touchline, with medical staff attending to him as he was in visible distress. Bradley left the Emirates Stadium with his knee heavily braced, underlining the seriousness of the setback that has ended his campaign prematurely.
Initial fears of an anterior cruciate ligament rupture have been eased, but scans revealed significant damage to both bone and ligaments in his left knee. Liverpool have confirmed that no specific timeframe has been placed on his return, but the injury has been deemed season-ending with Bradley now set to undergo surgery before beginning a lengthy rehabilitation programme.
The injury represents a crushing development for manager Arne Slot, who admitted after the match that he feared the worst when Bradley was forced off, with concerns heightened by the manner of the injury. Liverpool’s defensive resources have already been stretched this season, with further disruption now expected on the right side of the back line after Bradley had recently re-established himself in the starting line-up.
Bradley’s return had allowed Slot greater tactical flexibility, including pushing Jeremie Frimpong into a more advanced role, but those plans have now been derailed with Liverpool once again required to reshuffle their defensive options. Joe Gomez is available and offers cover at right-back, while Frimpong could also drop deeper if required, with Calvin Ramsay remaining another option having been involved in recent matchday squads despite uncertainty over his short-term future.
The setback places Bradley’s World Cup hopes in doubt should Northern Ireland progress through the March play-offs, with the defender set to miss their semi-final tie against Italy and his availability beyond that now uncertain. The injury is described as a cruel blow at a time when Bradley was beginning to enjoy sustained involvement and responsibility at senior level after a stop-start campaign disrupted by fitness issues.
