Arne Slot has admitted he fears the worst for Conor Bradley after the Liverpool defender picked up what looked to be a serious injury against Arsenal.
Bradley went down in agony and clutched his left knee as he hit the deck in the dying embers of Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal on Thursday night, having seemingly landed awkwardly when clearing a ball.
It triggered a melee on the field as Gabriel Martinelli tried to shove him off the pitch, which led to stark criticism from the likes of Gary Neville and Roy Keane on Sky Sports.
In terms of Bradley, though, Slot said after the game: ‘I think if a player of ours is on the floor, people might know by now that 100 out of 100 times there is something wrong with the player.
‘You don’t like to see a player moved if he might have such a big injury. We don’t know yet.’
He would also say: ‘I am afraid another injury have come up today. Let’s hope for the best but I fear the worst for Conor Bradley.’
The defender also left the stadium on crutches and in a knee brace as he awaits more information on the injury.
Bradley was stretchered off the field after he had been shoved by Martinelli, who opted to aggressively push his opponent off the pitch in a bid to continue with the game.
Bradley had just cleared a ball forward, but hit the floor in agony having twisted the lower part of his left leg. He was close to the touchline, and Martinelli made the point to referee Anthony Taylor that he should roll off the pitch so the game could continue – having already seemingly thrown the ball at his opponent.
When Bradley didn’t, Martinelli shoved the Northern Irishman to try and get him off the field, seemingly causing more pain as Liverpool players saw red.
The likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister went steaming in on the Arsenal man, who was booked, and Ibrahima Konate was also shown a yellow card for a shove on the winger, with Declan Rice separating the two.
Gary Neville said on Sky Sports of the incident: ‘You can’t push him off the pitch. You cannot do that. You idiot. That is so poor.
‘I am surprised one of the Liverpool players have not gone over and had a right pop at him. I think an apology is needed.
‘He’s thrown the ball at him as well. That is no good. I am actually fuming with Martinelli. I don’t know how the Liverpool players didn’t go over and absolutely whack him to be honest with you and take a red card. Absolutely disgraceful, that.’
Liverpool are already struggling for numbers in defence, with a deadline day move for Marc Guehi falling through and the likes of Giovanni Leoni out injured.
With Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Jeremie Frimpong has been employed in a role further up the field, which has meant Bradley has been needed at right back.
He now seems set for a spell on the sidelines, though, meaning resources for the Reds will now be stretched again.
Liverpool still have six games left to play this month, with the Champions League starting back up again this month and Premier League games also coming thick and fast.
An FA Cup tie with League One Barnsley this weekend may provide Slot with the option to rotate, but matches against Burnley, Marseille and Bournemouth will follow.
