Liverpool are expecting big things from academy right-back Conor Bradley.
Bradley finally made his first appearance of the season on Thursday, coming on for the final 10 minutes of the Europa League win over LASK.
That came after a 12 months in which the 20-year-old’s reputation grew enormously. Having spent an excellent season on-loan at Bolton Wanderers, Bradley looked set for a place in Liverpool’s first-team.
Unfortunately, injury meant that he missed the opening three-and-a-half months of the season. But now back fit, there have been claims that Jurgen Klopp is planning to use Bradley regularly.
Today’s report from The Athletic would seemingly back that up. Taking a look at Trent Alexander-Arnold’s emergence as a genuine option in central midfield for Liverpool, they evaluate his back-ups at right-back.
And while it’s concluded that both Bradley and Calvin Ramsay are not yet ready for significant roles, it’s claimed that the Reds have ‘high hopes’ for the Northern Irishman in particular.
Bradley set for Liverpool future
Anyone who watched Bradley during his spell at Bolton last year only had positive things to say about him.
Most recently, Wanderers striker Dion Charles lauded the youngster as an ‘incredible’ player who will be in the senior Liverpool team sooner rather than later.
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Following Bradley’s cameo against LASK Klopp also praised the full-back, labelling him a ‘real talent.‘
Obviously, that talent has to be made good on at some point. Now that he’s back from injury, Bradley will be expected to make the most of the minutes he’s given.
But for now, there seems to be a quiet hope that Conor could one day be Liverpool’s regular right-back.
For that to happen, Alexander-Arnold is going to have to make the move into the middle full-time. Should Bradley show he can be depended on between now and the end of the season, that does remain a possibility.
You feel that both of those things happening are very much dependent on each other.
Bradley is not a better right-back than Trent – few are. But with the Scouser’s form crying out for him to be moved permanently further forward, Bradley now has a real opportunity to show why Liverpool are so excited about him.