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Liverpool's Bradley out for season with knee injury

Conor Bradley running while playing for LiverpoolGetty Images

Aadam Patel

Liverpool reporter

Updated 7 minutes ago

Liverpool defender Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the rest of the domestic season after suffering a significant knee injury, involving damage to bone and ligament.

Bradley, 22, was forced off during Thursday's 0-0 Premier League draw at Arsenal after landing awkwardly near the touchline when chasing the ball in stoppage time.

The injury is not related to his anterior cruciate ligament but he will have surgery in the coming days.

The full-back is also now a major doubt for the World Cup if Northern Ireland qualify.

Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli later apologised for trying to push Bradley off the pitch when he was down injured.

Martinelli dropped the ball on his opponent before shoving him in the back in an attempt to get him off the playing surface to allow the game to continue.

That action sparked a melee between the two sets of players, with Martinelli and Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate both yellow-carded for their involvement.

Former Manchester United players Gary Neville and Roy Keane were both highly critical of Martinelli on Sky Sports, with Neville saying his actions were "absolutely disgraceful" and describing the Arsenal winger as an "idiot".

"I really didn't understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment," Martinelli posted on Instagram.

"I want to say I'm deeply sorry for reacting. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery."