Liverpool's Bradley to miss rest of season with significant knee injury

Liverpool defender Conor Bradley will miss the rest of the season with a significant knee injury sustained in Thursday's goalless draw at Arsenal.

Bradley will undergo surgery in the coming days to repair bone and ligament damage, but it is not an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Bradley will miss Northern Ireland's World Cup play-off tie with Italy in March, but it is unclear whether he would be fit in time for this summer's World Cup should Michael O'Neill's side qualify through the play-offs.

Liverpool revealed there is "no timeframe being placed" yet on the 22-year-old's return.

Confirmation of Bradley's injury comes after Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli had pushed the defender as he lay injured on the ground before being stretchered off.

Martinelli was booked by referee Anthony Taylor following the stoppage-time flashpoint with the winger widely criticised for his behaviour, which provoked anger among Liverpool's players.

But the Brazilian, who apologised for his actions on social media after the game, will avoid further punishment from the Football Association, with the matter considered dealt with as it was seen at the time by Taylor.

Martinelli said in a story on his Instagram account: "Conor and I have messaged and I have already apologised to him.

"I really didn't understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment.

"I want to say I'm deeply sorry for reacting. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery."

Bradley had made 21 appearances this season, having missed a number of matches with a hamstring problem.

It leaves Reds head coach Arne Slot with Jeremie Frimpong, who has had his own injury problems since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, and Joe Gomez, himself only just returning from a hamstring issue, as cover, but neither can be considered a genuine right-back.

Slot has had to utilise midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones in the position this season.