Liverpool, Jan 11 (NationPress) The Premier League has dealt Liverpool a significant setback as Conor Bradley, their defender, is sidelined for the rest of the season due to a severe knee injury affecting both bone and ligament. The 22-year-old is set to undergo surgery shortly.

In an official statement, the club announced, "Liverpool FC confirms that Conor Bradley has suffered a serious knee injury. The right-back sustained this injury during the final moments of Thursday's Premier League match against Arsenal."

"Bradley will have surgery in the next few days and will then enter a rehabilitation phase at the AXA Training Centre. At this time, there is no specified timeline for his return to the pitch," Liverpool further stated.

The 22-year-old was carried off on a stretcher during the late stages of the 0-0 draw against Arsenal in North London. The defender from Northern Ireland collapsed while clutching his left leg, following an attempt to play a loose ball in what seemed like a minor incident at the Emirates Stadium. Initially, it appeared he had twisted his ankle before awkwardly injuring his knee, but it has since been confirmed that the result was a serious injury.

During stoppage time, while Bradley was down near the touchline, Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli mistakenly thought he was wasting time and threw the ball at him, leading to a brief confrontation.

After the match concluded, Martinelli recognized his error and publicly apologized on Instagram, stating that he had also reached out to Bradley personally to express his regret.

“Conor and I have communicated, and I've already apologized to him. I truly did not realize he was seriously hurt in the heat of the moment,” Martinelli shared on his Instagram story.

“I want to extend my sincere apologies for my reaction. Wishing Conor all the best for a speedy recovery,” he added.