Arne Slot admits he took a ‘risk’ with Liverpool star Conor Bradley during the 2-2 draw at Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
The Northern Irishman came on in the 66th minute to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold but was forced off with injury in the closing stages.
Liverpool boss Slot has confirmed Bradley is now expected to miss at least the next two games against Manchester City and Newcastle United.
It marks the latest setback for the 21-year-old right-back – who missed a number of games in December with a hamstring problem – and was also absent near the start of the season with a different issue.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game at Villa Park, with Liverpool missing the chance to go 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League title race, Slot said: ‘[Diogo Jota] could only play 60 today, same as Trent, and that is why we had to make those substitutions.
‘I would love to keep them in the team but we have to play Sunday and Wednesday again and you saw with Conor Bradley how much of a risk it is. But Jota and Trent played good games.’
In his post-match press conference, Slot added: ‘It is difficult [to say about Bradley’s injury] but he felt [it] 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.
‘It will probably lead to the fact he is probably 99.9 per cent not available for [Manchester] 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.’
Mohamed Salah fired Liverpool ahead against Villa but the home side took the lead thanks to goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins.
Unai Emery’s team were unable to secure three points, though, as Alexander-Arnold levelled things up five minutes before coming off.
The result means Liverpool now have a eight-point lead over Arsenal – but they have played an extra game – handing the Gunners the opportunity to close the gap to five points.
Slot admits that he was left ‘not so happy’ after dropping points in the top-flight title race.
‘Not so happy, to be honest,’ the Dutchman added in his TNT Sports interview. ‘We created far more chances than them and created chances to win. But we also conceded from a set piece.
‘If you are 1-0 down it is far from easy. Their second chance was a goal, was a cross, but they may have won it in the final moments but when you put all the chances together, I am not happy with the 2-2.
‘They lost a very good striker but brought in two new ones in the winter break. It is a difficult one because of the team they have the support they have from the fans. We were close to playing a very, very good game.
‘The pressure is always on you if you are Liverpool. It matters where we are in the league table but the pressure is always on if you are Liverpool.’
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