The 22-year-old was stretchered late in the match after twisting the knee in obvious discomfort.
Bradley later left the stadium on crutches, immediately raising fears about the severity of the problem.
These concerns were confirmed when Liverpool revealed the injury would require surgery, ruling Bradley out for the remainder of the 2025/2026 season.
Liverpool confirm Conor Bradley’s injury
Liverpool confirmed the severity of the injury with a statement to their name official website.
They described the knee injury as “significant” and a surgical procedure is planned, which will force Bradley to miss the remainder of this season.
The statement read: “Liverpool FC can confirm that Conor Bradley has suffered a significant knee injury.
“The right-back suffered the problem in the latter stages of Thursday evening’s Premier League match against Arsenal.
“Bradley will undergo surgery in the coming days and then begin a period of rehabilitation at the AXA Training Center.
“No timetable is being set for his return to football at this stage of the process.”
Although the club has avoided setting a specific date for his recovery, confirmation of the operation effectively rules Bradley out for the season, with Liverpool prioritizing a full and careful rehabilitation.
Reports suggest that the injury involves both ligament and bone damage, rather than a simple ACL tear, making it a particularly complex problem that requires precise surgical intervention and a longer recovery period.
What Conor Bradley’s injury means for Liverpool
Bradley’s absence creates a major problem for Arne Slot at a crucial stage of the season, leaving Liverpool dangerously short on natural options at right-back.
With Bradley sidelined, Liverpool will now rely heavily on Bayer Leverkusen’s summer signing Jeremy Frimpong, who becomes the club’s only recognized senior right-back.
However, Frimpong itself has struggled with fitness issues this season, raising concerns about workload and sustainability.
The crisis leaves injury-prone Joe Gomez as the primary back-up to both right-back and centre-back.
Finally, Dominik Szoboszlai has also previously used as an improvised right back in emergency situations.
The Hungarian midfielder, arguably Liverpool’s star performer this season, remains an option, although using him out of position could weaken Liverpool’s midfield position.
Transfer implications and growing injury list
Bradley’s setback creates a worrying injury situation at Anfield, with Liverpool already missing key figures including Giovanni Leoni (ACL) and Alexander Isak (broken leg).
Liverpool have been linked with defensive reinforcements ahead of the January window, most notably Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi.
It remains to be seen whether Bradley’s injury will force the club to accelerate plans to bring in a new defender.
For now, Slot must deal with a demanding schedule with limited defensive options, while the focus shifts firmly to ensuring Bradley makes a full recovery rather than risking a hasty return.
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