The Northern Ireland international will not feature again this season for Liverpool, reducing the number of defensive options Arne Slot have available to just six for the remainder of the campaign.
09:18, 16 Jan 2026Updated 09:44, 16 Jan 2026
Liverpool boss Arne Slot
Arne Slot was asked about Liverpool's January transfer plans(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot gave a cryptic response when asked whether Conor Bradley's injury will force the club into the transfer market this month.
The right-back suffered a serious knee injury in the latter stages of the draw at Arsenal last week and, despite scans showing he had not suffered an ACL problem, underwent surgery this week. He is not expected to play again this season, further depleting Slot's numbers.
The Dutchman was asked ahead of that Arsenal game if he was happy with his defensive numbers, and following Bradley's injury, he has just six first-team defenders to choose from in the second half of the season.
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Ahead of Saturday's match against Burnley, Slot implied that setback has laid bare Liverpool's lack of defensive options, but went short of saying it will force a rethink in the market.
"I think everyone is aligned about the challenges we are facing," explained the Liverpool head coach.
"That’s not to say that we are going to act, but we are aligned on what we are facing. There is no-one who has a different opinion on it. That’s not to say that anything is going to happen."
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 8: Conor Bradley of Liverpool is treated for injury as Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes of Arsenal look on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on January 8, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Bradley will not play again this season due to his serious knee injury(Image: Getty Images)
One alternative suggested in recent weeks is to incorporate Calvin Ramsay into the first-team picture.
The Scot has never played a Premier League match before but featured in October's Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace and has been an unused substitute in the last seven games.
Asked whether he could play a bigger role in the second half of the season, Slot implied he does envisage the right-back contributing significantly.
"It’s great for Calvin where he is at the moment. A half year ago he came back to this club to the Under-21s. Everyone playing for the Under-21s is hoping for a chance [in the first team].
"It is big chance that he is having now to come to the first. When someone is really unlucky when the injuries he is having like we are now, there is always a player that benefits from that.
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"Calvin is one of them. He is with us, but I still think I have better options to play.
"The moment I am running out of options, he showed in the one game that he played against Palace, and the moments he trained with us, that he is good enough to be in and around our players, and then you have to wait for a chance to show this to the rest of the world.
"But at this moment in time, I have, in options, still better options than him."