Liverpool’s defensive depth is being tested like never before as both Conor Bradley and Trent Alexander-Arnold find themselves sidelined at a critical point in the Premier League title race.
Manager Arne Slot now faces the daunting task of navigating a busy April schedule without his first- and second-choice right-backs, a challenge further complicated by the long-term absence of Joe Gomez.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Slot and his squad. With both key right-backs unavailable, Liverpool must rely on alternative solutions at a time when every point is crucial in the race for the title.
Conor Bradley’s latest injury occurred during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Aston Villa in February, where he pulled up clutching his right hamstring after a sprint toward the byline in the 84th minute.
What seemed like a routine sprint quickly turned into a concerning moment, with Bradley signaling for a substitution almost immediately.
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Liverpool injury list: Conor, Trent, Joe Gomez and more
This recent setback marks Bradley’s third major injury of the 2024/25 season. Earlier in the campaign, the 21-year-old had suffered a hamstring strain in November 2024 during a match against Real Madrid, which kept him out for eight matches.
A recurrence of the injury during training in December resulted in another four matches missed. Now, with the current tear, Bradley has missed a total of 14 matches across all competitions.
This has severely hindered what had been a promising season, where he was stepping up as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s primary deputy on the right.
🟢 𝑵𝑬𝑾𝑺: Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez are also stepping up their recovery from respective hamstring injuries.
Bradley is the closer of the two to playing again but the game against Everton will come too soon for the Northern Irishman as he has yet to resume full training…
— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) March 31, 2025
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill spoke to the frustration Bradley has felt, stating:
“He’s frustrated, but his initial frustration has subsided. His focus is on getting fit for the season’s end.”
Despite some early reports suggesting Bradley was back in training this week, it’s clear that he isn’t quite ready to return to action yet. The Athletic reported that while Bradley is progressing, he won’t be available for Liverpool’s upcoming match against Everton.
As James Pearce noted:
“Arne Slot’s title-chasing squad reconvened on Saturday after he gave his international contingent some time off following the end of their national team commitments last week.
Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez are also stepping up their recovery from respective hamstring injuries.
Bradley is the closer of the two to playing again but the game against Everton will come too soon for the Northern Irishman as he has yet to resume full training. Gomez has started doing some light running out on the grass.”
With both Bradley and Alexander-Arnold unavailable for the Everton clash, Jarell Quansah is expected to step in and take on the right-back duties, as Liverpool continue their title chase without their usual defensive leaders.
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Sai Akshay
I'm a football enthusiast and an avid writer and someone who lives by the Bill Shankly quote, on a day to day basis.