New Delhi: Arne Slot’s injury troubles increased during his side’s clash with Aston Villa that saw both teams share the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw. The result however, came at a cost for the Reds as right-back Conor Bradley limped off during the clash, with manager Arne Slot confirming the young defender is set to miss at least the next two games. This injury now sees him ruled out for the crunch encounter with Manchester City this coming weekend.
Bradley, who replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 66th minute, was forced off in the final moments with what appeared to be a muscle injury, leaving the Reds in a tricky situation ahead of the crucial fixture on Sunday. Slot acknowledged the severity of the issue, suggesting that the 20-year-old was highly unlikely to feature against either City or Newcastle, claiming that “he is 99.9% not available for Manchester City.”
Arne Slot has provided a further injury update on Cody Gakpo, Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez 💬
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 20, 2025
“He felt something when he made a sprint,” Slot explained. “All the time with injuries, I always say if a player wants to go off himself then it’s not a promising sign.” He doesn’t expect the defender to be available for the Newcastle clash and now faces a wait to see whether he will be out for two weeks or more than that. Bradley had been developing well under Slot this season and has already made 22 appearances in all competitions this season.
Bradley’s breakthrough campaign has been one of the bright spots for Liverpool, with the Northern Ireland international impressing in his opportunities at right-back. His absence will undoubtedly be felt, but the focus will now be on ensuring he recovers fully before returning to action. He is being groomed to takeover the right back spot from Trent as and when the 26-year-old decides to leave the Kop behind.
Liverpool’s Growing Injury Concerns
Bradley’s setback only adds to Liverpool’s current injury struggles, particularly in defense. Joe Gomez, another option who could be utilized at right-back, is already sidelined having gone through surgery earlier this week, leaving Alexander-Arnold as the only natural choice for the position. While the England international remains a world-class option, Slot now has limited alternatives should he need to rotate.
Liverpool’s depth has been tested in recent weeks, with several key players missing action at crucial moments. The club has had to rely on makeshift solutions, and this trend could continue if Bradley’s absence extends beyond the upcoming matches. In the FA Cup loss to Plymouth Argyle, 20-year-old midfielder James McConnell filled in at right-back, and he may be called upon again as emergency cover.
Cody Gakpo’s fitness for Gameweek 26 hangs in the balance ⚖️
Will you be looking towards alternative forwards with his fitness uncertain? 🤔#FPL pic.twitter.com/Aww3EthprY
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 20, 2025
Slot has spoken highly of McConnell’s adaptability, but throwing him into the deep end in a high-stakes clash against City would be a massive gamble. The club are also sweating over the fitness of attacker Cody Gakpo, who has missed the club’s last two games against Villa and Wolves and hasn’t yet been cleared for the clash against City. Another youngster in Tyler Morton has also been ruled out for the rest of the season as a shoulder injury now sees him out for the next three months at least.
With the Premier League title race heating up, Liverpool can hardly afford to be without key players. Alexander-Arnold, who has already played a heavy schedule, will likely have to push through any fatigue until one of his understudies returns. The concern for Slot and Liverpool’s medical team will be avoiding overworking their vice-captain, as any further injuries could leave them in an even worse situation heading into the final stretch of the season.
Liverpool travel to Manchester City for a crunch Premier League encounter but have faced another injury blow ahead of the clash as academy boy Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the match. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
