Conor Bradley was stretchered off in the latter stages of Liverpool’s goalless draw with Arsenal, with Gabriel Martinelli then sparking a huge clash after trying to move the player
Conor Bradley left Arsenal on crutches with his knee in a brace with Arne Slot fearing he has suffered a big injury. The Liverpool defender suffered a serious looking knee injury at the end of their stalemate with Arsenal.
Bradley was also at the centre of a flashpoint with Arsenal substitute Gabriel Martinelli who threw the ball at Bradley despite the Liverpool full back laying stricken on the ground.
Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane called it a “disgrace” as Bradley was clearly hurt before the flare-up which is another major injury worry for Liverpool boss Arne Slot.
Bradley then had to be helped out of the stadium by Liverpool members of staff but he looked in obvious pain on crutches and in a special knee brace.
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Speaking immediately after the game, Slot admitted that he was ‘hoping for the best, but fearing for the worst’ over any potential news on Bradley’s injury.
On the flashpoint with Martinelli, he said: “I think if a player of ours is on the floor, people should know by now that there is something wrong with the player. You don’t like to see a player moved when he might have such a big injury. I didn’t like to see one of my players moved if they have such a big injury, but we don’t know yet.”
Mikel Arteta vehemently defended his player and said: “Probably he doesn’t know because knowing Gabi, there is zero intention. I don’t know what happened to Conor, but hopefully it’s not bad, but obviously, there is no intention from Gabi to do anything bad to him.”
But ex-Manchester United players Keane and Gary Neville saw the incident very differently, with the latter branding the Brazilian ‘an idiot’ during commentary.
He said: “I am surprised one of the Liverpool players hasn’t gone over and had a right pop at him. I think an apology is needed.
“I’m fuming with Martinelli, I don’t know how a Liverpool player didn’t go and whack him and take the red card. Absolutely disgraceful.”
After the final whistle, Keane added: “I didn’t like it at all. Happened to me once before.
“It’s not good. First of all throwing the ball on him, standing over him. He’s got a bit of a knee in him, he’s trying to force him off. I think that behaviour is an absolute disgrace.
“I’m surprised the Liverpool players didn’t go after him a little bit more. He’s a good boy to roll round himself, not good scenes hopefully he’ll look at it and hopefully apologise for it”
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