Liverpool manager Arne Slot says Conor Bradley is slowly getting back to full fitness and could maybe be ready for the Premier League trip to Leeds United on Saturday, as reported by Fabrizio Romano via his official X account.
Fabrizio Romano posted:
Arne Slot: Hopefully Conor Bradley is available for Leeds. We expect Jeremie Frimpong to be back in training next week. Unfortunately we play a lot of games, so he’ll miss a few.
Bradley returned to training on Monday, after missing the Reds’ last three games with a muscle injury he picked up while on international duty with Northern Ireland. He’s still not 100%, but Slot sounded cautiously positive about the possibility of him featuring at Elland Road.
Slot was clear there’s no rush. Bradley is only taking part in parts of training for now, and forcing him back too soon could lead to setbacks.
The Sunderland match at Anfield tomorrow is definitely too soon, the manager added. The focus is on keeping him fit and avoiding any risk, especially with Liverpool facing a packed schedule in the coming weeks.
There’s some brighter news on Jeremie Frimpong, who is expected to start first-team training next week after a long spell out with a hamstring injury picked up during Liverpool’s Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt on October 22, as reported by Softfootball.
Slot confirmed Frimpong will miss at least the next three matches: Sunderland, Leeds, and Inter Milan in the Champions League on December 9. Full match fitness is still a few weeks away, likely mid-December.
Liverpool’s shortage of natural right-backs has forced Slot to use midfielders like Dominik Szoboszlai in defensive roles, which has unsettled the team, especially in midfield.
The returns of Bradley and Frimpong will be vital. Not just for defensive stability, but to give Slot more options for rotation, particularly with Mohamed Salah leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15.
Fans will be hoping these comebacks can bring balance back to Liverpool’s defence and midfield and allow Slot to navigate December’s hectic fixture list more comfortably. If both players are ready in time, the Reds could finally regain some much-needed stability and depth.
