Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley’s season is officially over after sustaining a serious knee injury during the Premier League’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
The 22-year-old was stretchered off towards the end of the match after awkwardly twisting his knee in visibly discomfort.
Bradley then left the stadium on crutches, but there were soon concerns about the seriousness of the problem.
Those fears were confirmed after Liverpool revealed that the injury would require surgery, meaning Bradley will miss the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
Liverpool confirm Conor Bradley injury
Liverpool released a statement on their official website confirming the severity of the injury.
They say the knee injury is “significant” and surgery is scheduled, meaning Bradley will miss the remainder of the season.
A statement read: “Liverpool FC can confirm that Conor Bradley has suffered a serious knee injury.
“The right-back suffered a problem towards the end of the Premier League game away to Arsenal on Thursday night.
“Bradley will undergo surgery in the next few days, after which he will begin a rehabilitation period at the AXA Training Center.
“At this stage in the process, there is no deadline for his return to play.”
The club have declined to give a specific timetable for Bradley’s recovery, but confirmation of the surgery means he will effectively miss the season and Liverpool are prioritizing a full and careful rehabilitation.
The injury reportedly involves both ligament and bone damage rather than a simple ACL tear, making it a particularly complex problem requiring precise surgical intervention and a long recovery period.
What Conor Bradley’s injury means for Liverpool
Bradley’s absence poses a huge problem for Arne Slott at a crucial stage of the season, leaving Liverpool dangerously short on natural right-back options.
In Bradley’s absence, Liverpool are now relying heavily on Jeremy Frimpong, the club’s only recognized senior right-back, who signed in the summer from Bayer Leverkusen.
However, Frimpong himself has been plagued by fitness issues this season, raising concerns about his workload and endurance.
The crisis left the injury-prone Joe Gomez as the primary backup in both right-back and centre-back positions.
Slott had previously used Dominik Szoboszlai as an emergency right-back.
Arguably Liverpool’s standout performer this season, the Hungarian midfielder remains an option, but placing him out of position could weaken Liverpool’s midfield.
Impact on transfers and growing injury list
Bradley’s setback adds to the already alarming injury situation at Anfield, with Liverpool already without key players such as Giovanni Leoni (ACL) and Alexander Isak (broken foot).
Liverpool are rumored to be making defensive reinforcements ahead of the season in January, with Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi being the most notable.
It remains to be seen whether Bradley’s injury will require the club to accelerate plans to bring in a new defender.
For now, Slott will have to navigate a grueling game schedule with limited defensive options, but the focus has shifted firmly to Bradley’s full recovery rather than risking a rushed return.
