Liverpool sweat as Conor Bradley leaves Emirates on crutches after knee scare
Conor Bradley’s evening at the Emirates ended in grim fashion and Liverpool are holding their breath. The young right-back went down late on with minimal contact, Gabriel Martinelli in the vicinity, and the pain was immediate. Moments later, the stretcher was called. You could feel the mood in the away end turn.
What happened at the Emirates
Bradley’s collapse looked like a knee problem and, while there was no big challenge to point at, the damage looked worrying from the off. He was taken off and later seen departing the ground on crutches, a brace strapped to his knee.
The early word from the ground
Respected reporters on Merseyside painted a bleak picture. The Athletic’s James Pearce clocked Bradley leaving on crutches, and Liverpool Echo’s Paul Gorst echoed the concern, suggesting the club fears this could be more than a knock. Early indications are worrying, with Liverpool braced for the possibility of a significant lay-off pending scans. The medical team will get imaging done in the coming days before anyone dares talk timelines.
How Liverpool might cope
With Mohamed Salah away at AFCON, Arne Slot’s right flank already needed careful balancing. Now, if Bradley is out, the head coach may have to reshuffle again. Joe Gomez can do a steady job at right-back, there are academy options who can offer legs, and we’ve seen makeshift solutions before when injuries bite. Tactically, Slot could tighten up with a back three or lean on a more conservative full-back while freeing up the winger ahead of him.
Transfer window implications
This is a January problem at the worst possible time. If the scans confirm a longer absence, don’t be shocked if Liverpool move in the market for cover. There have been whispers about a verbal agreement for promising Senegalese defender Mor Ndiaye, though that’s one for the “keep an eye on it” pile rather than a like-for-like fix at right-back. Either way, the squad is thinner than you’d like when AFCON and knocks pile up, so expect business to heat up quickly.
The pundit’s verdict
Bradley has been a breath of fresh air—front-foot defending, fearless overlapping, and a bit of needle when it’s needed. Lose that and Liverpool lose some of their bite. Until the scans land, it’s guesswork, but it’s a proper headache for Slot. In the short term, trust Gomez, keep it tight, and squeeze results. In the medium term, a smart depth signing would calm the nerves.
Stick with us for updates as the picture clears—and for wider football coverage, check out our guide to the best betting sites as the window drama unfolds.
For now, it’s wait-and-see. If the brace and crutches are any indicator, Liverpool will be planning for contingencies while hoping for the best. The scans will tell the real story.
