Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool’s right-back situation is something that Arne Slot will have to continue to address for the next few weeks. The nightmare scenario began when Conor Bradley suffered a serious knee injury during Liverpool’s goalless draw with Arsenal back in January.
The 22-year-old Northern Ireland international was stretchered off in stoppage time at the Emirates Stadium, and subsequent scans revealed significant damage to both the bone and ligaments in his left knee. While the club initially confirmed Bradley would miss the remainder of the season and require surgery, the true extent of his absence is now emerging as far more severe than first feared.
Compounding matters further, summer signing Jeremie Frimpong has endured a disrupted debut campaign on Merseyside. The Dutch defender has been plagued by persistent hamstring issues throughout the season. His most recent setback came in Liverpool’s Champions League demolition of Qarabag, when he was forced off with a groin injury just four minutes into the match, ruling him out for several more weeks.
With both specialist right-backs unavailable, injury analyst Ben Dinnery delivered a sobering assessment to Anfield Index that paints an even bleaker picture for Bradley’s recovery timeline. Speaking candidly about the young defender’s prospects, Dinnery stated that the Northern Ireland international could only return in 2027: “We’re probably looking at something that is going to extend into the latter part of the year. If there’s any chance of him returning in 2026, it would be a considerable advantage for Liverpool, but it could easily push into early 2027.”
He expressed particular concern regarding the nature of the injury, highlighting that tests indicated both bone and ligament damage, adding that “the mechanism itself is a serious problem.”
Bradley has shown that he has the level to play for Liverpool, but the consistent injuries cast a worrying shadow over his Anfield career.
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