Liverpool Fullback Could Be Out for Weeks, Possibly Longer, with Hamstring Injury; Slot Says It Doesn’t Look Good
Liverpool may soon face a major defensive crisis if they’re not careful.
Conor Bradley suffered an injury during the second half at Villa Park after coming on as a substitute for Trent Alexander-Arnold just past the hour mark. Arne Slot was forced to replace the 21-year-old with center-back Jarell Quansah, with Joe Gomez also sidelined, as Liverpool held on to a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.
Has Conor Bradley Suffered a Hamstring Injury?
The signs for the Northern Ireland international aren’t promising.
Fan footage from Villa Park showed Bradley signaling to the physios that his hamstring was bothering him, raising concerns given that he had only recently returned to action after a similar injury in late 2024.
It appears that Bradley is dealing with a hamstring issue, which could leave him sidelined for several important matches. At the very least, he is expected to miss Premier League games against Manchester City (away) and Newcastle United (home).
“It is difficult, but he felt something when making a sprint. He tried to continue but had to come off,” Arne Slot said in his post-match press conference (via liverpoolfc.com).
“With injuries, if a player wants to come off themselves, it’s usually not a good sign. It looks like he’ll probably be unavailable for City, and I don’t expect him for Newcastle either. We’ll have to see if it’s one or two weeks or something longer.”
It’s especially disappointing, given Bradley’s promising performances since his return to the first team.
Liverpool Faces Tightrope with Alexander-Arnold’s Fitness
With Alexander-Arnold’s fitness being closely monitored—hence his early substitution against Villa—Liverpool is walking a thin line with injuries in the full-back positions. There’s now officially no senior backup for the right-back role should Alexander-Arnold pick up an injury in the coming days or weeks.
Managing Alexander-Arnold’s minutes effectively will be a tough challenge for Arne Slot, especially with crucial fixtures against Manchester City and Newcastle ahead.
