Liverpool respond to fears Conor Bradley will be injured until 2027 | Football | Sport
Liverpool’s assessment of Conor Bradley’s knee injury remains unchanged, despite claims circulating on social media, and the club continues to be optimistic he will return in time for the beginning of the 2026/27 campaign. The right-back suffered an unfortunate blow in the closing stages of Liverpool’s 0-0 draw at Arsenal last month and needed a stretcher to leave the pitch.
Subsequent scans revealed that Bradley had avoided an ACL injury, though he did sustain damage to bone and ligament in his knee. Bradley went under the knife in January and is unlikely to feature again this season, although his possible participation at the World Cup this summer, should Northern Ireland progress through the play-offs, has not been completely dismissed.
Whilst no precise timeline has been established for his recovery, Liverpool.com claim that suggestions on social media that Bradley is not expected to return this calendar year are at odds with Liverpool’s diagnosis.
Those claims gained traction on social media on Wednesday, sparking online speculation that reinforcements are needed at right-back this summer.
“A big blow but surgery is done so the comeback starts now, ” Bradley wrote on Instagram a few days after sustaining the injury. “It won’t be for a little while but I already can’t wait to get back playing for Liverpool and Northern Ireland. Thanks for all the support.”
The former Bayer Leverkusen star is anticipated to return in the forthcoming weeks, with the groin problem he picked up against Qarabag not considered serious.
Nevertheless, it forced Wataru Endo to drop into the back four during last week’s final Champions League league phase fixture, whilst Dominik Szoboszlai deputised for the 4-1 victory over Newcastle United.
Endo or Dominik Szoboszlai are expected to fill in once more this weekend when the Reds welcome Manchester City, though Joe Gomez could be available.
Regarding Bradley, his setback occurred just as he started to regain match sharpness following a muscular problem in November and December.
The academy product is viewed by many as the club’s future right-back following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit last summer.
Yet, minor knocks and injury lay-offs have hampered his progress in the Liverpool first team. The 22-year-old has featured 78 times for the club, making 21 appearances this season before being sidelined for the rest of the campaign.
Bradley is among three long-term casualties in the first team, alongside Giovanni Leoni and Alexander Isak.
