Liverpool are renowned for not panicking in the transfer window. The Reds have long been praised for their patience when making signings. But the club's hierarchy would be taking an almighty risk by not reacting to the events of last night's draw at Arsenal before the winter window shuts on February 2. Conor Bradley was stretchered off with a knee injury and Arne Slot admitted: "Let's hope for the best, but I fear the worst."
The Dutch coach added: "It doesn't look great if he has the injury which we fear he might have. It didn't look great if you have to go off on a stretcher, and I think when we see the video we both probably think the same, but we have to wait on the scans if it's that bad." Liverpool seem fearful that Bradley's season is over. The Northern Irishman's entire 2026 might have been wrecked if Liverpool's worst fears are realised after he left the Emirates on crutches.
If Bradley's injury is long term, Liverpool must act this month - they need to sign another centre-half. Without the 22-year-old, their main options at right-back are Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez. That leaves Slot with several problems.
Frimpong has been utilised as a winger in recent games thanks to his pace and 1vs1 threat. Especially while Mohamed Salah is absent, the Dutchman is the first-choice right winger. And for good reason. Playing Dominik Szoboszlai there is a misuse of the Hungarian's talents and he does not offer the same directness.
Yet Frimpong, 25, is prone to injuries much like Bradley. He has missed 14 matches already this season with muscle problems. Likewise, Gomez's time in the team was ended by an injury sustained against Brighton last month. The Englishman has regularly struggled with his fitness.
Another issue is that Gomez is also the third-choice centre-back, and he will likely be required to play there between now and the end of the season, even if it just off the bench. Were Gomez to become the first-choice right-back and get injured again, that would leave Liverpool with just one right-back and only two senior central defenders - Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
But signing Marc Guehi, or another centre-back target, this month would ease the reliance on Gomez to play centrally. Gomez and Frimpong could rotate at right-back once Salah returns, with Frimpong then also an option on the right wing.
Another right-back alternative, Calvin Ramsay, impressed against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup in October but hasn't seen a single minute of first-team action since. Slot doesn't trust the Scot to play in the Premier League, having preferred even Szoboszlai at right-back over Ramsay.
So Liverpool must act. They already needed another centre-back this month, even if Bradley stayed fit. If he's out for the bulk of what remains of this campaign, another senior body is badly needed at Anfield. They are playing with fire if they ask Van Dijk and Konate to start every remaining Premier League and Champions League match together.
Whether that player they sign this month is Guehi or a different defender, Slot and co. need to ensure they're not relying on the three of Konate, Gomez and Frimpong to remain injury free until at least May 24. History indicates the odds of them doing so are very slim.