Liverpool injury latest: Bradley ruled out, Isak recovery, Leoni timeline

Liverpool’s stuttering start to 2026 continued at Anfield as they were held to a fourth consecutive Premier League draw, this time against relegation-threatened Burnley.

Despite taking the lead through Florian Wirtz, Liverpool once again failed to capitalise, with Marcus Edwards equalising in the second half. A missed penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai compounded a frustrating afternoon for Arne Slot’s side as they dropped further points in the race for a top-four finish.

Attention now turns to the Champions League, with Marseille visiting Anfield on Wednesday. Ahead of that fixture, Liverpool’s injury situation remains a major talking point — despite a boost elsewhere with Mohamed Salah available again following the Africa Cup of Nations.

Below is the latest on Conor Bradley, Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni.

Conor Bradley’s season is over.

The right-back was forced off late in the goalless draw away at Arsenal earlier this month after landing awkwardly near the touchline while chasing a loose ball. While initial fears of an ACL rupture were avoided, subsequent scans confirmed significant damage to ligaments and bone in his left knee.

Bradley will undergo surgery and begin a lengthy rehabilitation programme at the AXA Training Centre. Liverpool have placed no timeframe on his return, but the injury will rule him out for the remainder of the campaign and also see him miss Northern Ireland’s World Cup play-off against Italy in March.

Potential return date: Unknown (ruled out for 2025/26 season)

Alexander Isak has been sidelined since before Christmas after suffering a serious ankle injury during Liverpool’s 2–1 win away at Tottenham.

The striker was injured after a challenge from Micky van de Ven — an incident Slot later described as “reckless”. Isak initially played on after scoring the opening goal but was eventually forced off, with tests later revealing a fractured fibula that required surgery.

While no exact return date has been set, Slot has confirmed the injury will keep Isak out for “a couple of months”, though there is optimism he will feature again before the end of the season.

Potential return date: March 2026

Giovanni Leoni faces the longest road back.

The young centre-back suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament on his Liverpool debut in September during the Carabao Cup win over Southampton. The injury occurred just weeks after his arrival from Parma and required immediate surgery.

Leoni is expected to be sidelined for around 12 months, with his rehabilitation still in its early stages. Slot has acknowledged the psychological difficulty of such a setback, particularly given the defender’s age and promising start.

Potential return date: September 2026

Liverpool will hope to manage minutes carefully as European fixtures resume, with depth stretched in key areas. Isak’s recovery is particularly important given attacking inconsistencies, while Bradley’s absence leaves limited options at right-back. The coming weeks will test Slot’s ability to balance results with player availability.

Can Liverpool sustain a top-four push with key players sidelined, or will injuries continue to undermine their season?