Patrick Bamford suggests Liverpool have a ‘mental’ player he’d pick over Bernardo Silva

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Bernardo Silva has often been a worthy adversary for Liverpool since joining Manchester City in 2017.

For whatever reason, the Portugal international has regularly had a bee in his bonnet about the Reds. Back in 2020, he refused to join in a guard of honour for Liverpool’s recently crowned champions, while in the same year he memorably directed an angry tweet towards Reds supporters.

As a result of these things, Silva has become something of a pantomime villain at Liverpool. Consequently, Reds fans might enjoy hearing Leeds United forward Patrick Bamford pick Trent Alexander-Arnold over the City forward during an appearance on his ‘My Mate’s A Footballer’ podcast.

Asked by listeners to hypothetically pick a player to star in all eleven positions on the pitch, Bamford opted for Liverpool’s right-back.

“It was between Bernardo and Trent,” said the 30-year-old, before sharing why he’d settled on the Scouser. “He [Trent] can do a bit of everything. I think centre-back would be a bit of a struggle but everywhere else…

“His technical ability and the way he strikes a ball, there’s no one better I don’t think. He can kick it so far as well, that’s mental. Imagine him at right-back, left-back, in midfield and on the wing as well crossing it!”

Bamford praises Trent versatility

This is an interesting question, with Bamford giving a reasonable answer. Trent has already mastered two positions for Liverpool and you’d back him to give the others a go, too.

Certainly as far as Bernardo is concerned, he’s a much safer bet. Imagine the City forward playing anywhere in defence, for example.

Silva is a lovely player and has perhaps even been one of the best in the Premier League over the past seven years. But his versatility is limited to forward areas of the pitch.

Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, has the physicality, defensive and attacking instincts to play just about anywhere.

Bamford’s words are a reminder of just what Liverpool have been missing while their No.66 has been on the treatment table. Conor Bradley has stepped in admirably, but he’s no Trent.

There should be no qualms about Bradley continuing. But Alexander-Arnold is simply as special footballer.

Thankfully, reports have claimed that the 25-year-old has a chance to be ready for Liverpool’s next Premier League game, against Brighton on March 31st.

Given Bradley’s impressive stint at right-back, maybe there’s a chance Jurgen Klopp puts Bamford’s theory to the test and shoehorns Trent in somewhere else. He’d certainly give it a good go.