Liverpool manager Arne Slot has admitted that he is "99.9%" sure that Conor Bradley will be unavailable for Sunday's Premier League battle with Manchester City after picking up an injury against Aston Villa.
The Northern Ireland international started on the bench at Villa Park, where his superior Trent Alexander-Arnold struck a deflected leveller to rescue a point for the Reds in a 2-2 stalemate.
Alexander-Arnold - whose minutes are still being managed after a hamstring problem - was then withdrawn for Bradley just five minutes later, but the latter could not see out the game.
Bradley went down with a suspected hamstring problem towards the end of the four-goal thriller and ceded his place to Jarell Quansah, as Liverpool moved eight points clear of Arsenal at the top of the rankings.
Speaking to reporters in his post-game press conference, Slot could not shed more light on Bradley's issue, but the Dutchman admitted that the right-back will surely miss out against both Man City this weekend and Newcastle United next week.
Slot: '99.9% Bradley will not face Man City'
© Iconsport
"It is difficult but he felt a bit when he made a sprint. He tried to continue but had to go out. All the time with injuries, I always say if a player wants to go out himself, that's not a promising sign," Slot said.
"It will probably lead to the fact he is probably 99.9 per cent not available for City and I don't expect him against Newcastle as well. Then we have to see if it's one or two weeks or if it's going to be even longer."
Bradley could be one of four absentees for Liverpool when they head to the Etihad this weekend, as Dutch attacker Cody Gakpo remains a doubt having missed the Reds' last two games with the knock he picked up in the Merseyside derby.
In addition, there are fears that Joe Gomez might need surgery to correct the hamstring injury he sustained against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup, while Tyler Morton is out of contention with a shoulder injury.
Bradley was making his 22nd appearance of the season on Wednesday evening and his 50th overall for Liverpool, whom he has registered one goal and nine assists for since breaking into the first team.
How big a blow would losing Bradley be?
© Imago
At a time where Alexander-Arnold's contract situation continues to dominate headlines amid links with Real Madrid, Bradley is doing everything he can to prove that he would be a worthy replacement.
The 21-year-old does not possess the same exceptional passing range and playmaking skills as his English counterpart, but his explosive nature and driving runs have proven incredibly effective already.
From that breathtaking tackle on Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe to setting up Dominik Szoboszlai against Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup semi-finals with a surge inside, the Northern Irishman has endeared himself to the fans even more this term.
Alexander-Arnold was always going to start the clash with Man City, but he has not played more than 66 minutes in one game since returning from injury, and it remains to be seen if he can last the full 90 on Sunday.
Bradley would have been a terrific option in the final 20 minutes against tired City legs, but Quansah will seemingly have to fill in if Slot decides that Alexander-Arnold is not yet ready to see out a match.
Ben Knapton
