Conor Bradley has had a frustrating season at Liverpool after taking over right-back duties from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Northern Irishman had been expected to step up and stamp his authority on the position having waved Alexander-Arnold off to Real Madrid.
However, while Bradley has regularly been Arne Slot’s first-choice at right-back, he has had to contend with injury issues and poor form.
The fitness troubles are arguably Bradley’s biggest problem. As Slot confirmed on Friday, Liverpool will be without their No. 12 for at least the next three weeks.
Understandably, supporters are growing frustrated with Bradley’s consistent lack of availability and are beginning to question whether they need to bring in another new right-back.
While there is a debate to be had over that topic, Alexander-Arnold‘s assessment of his former Liverpool teammate should remind fans that he is worth persevering with.
Trent Alexander-Arnold backed Conor Bradley for stardom
Although Alexander-Arnold is obviously not Liverpool supporters’ favourite footballer currently, he certainly knows his way around playing right-back.
Given the quality of the Scouser, Bradley had little chance of breaking into the starting XI on a full-time basis while he was at the club.
Nevertheless, Alexander-Arnold clearly knew his position-mate had the potential to fill that slot. Asked during an interview with Sky Sports in October 2024 who was the best young player at Liverpool, the former No. 66 picked Bradley.
“The future star, I’m going to have to go with Conor,” he said. “I like to play 90 minutes, but I know how good he is, I trust in him to get the job done to help the team win the game.”
Is Conor Bradley Liverpool’s long-term right-back?
“I know how good he is. I trust him to get the job done to help the team win the game.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold on Conor Bradley Oct’ 2024
Rewind back to February 2024, and Alexander-Arnold was singing the praises of Bradley even earlier.
“I think the way he’s stepped up and performed was incredible,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.
“We see it day in and day out in training how good he is and how good the rest of the young lads are. It’s a very, very good time for the Academy. It’s very good to see.”
Bradley deserves chance to put things right at Liverpool
Interestingly, when Alexander-Arnold chose Bradley as Liverpool’s best young player, he did so by picking him ahead of Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak and Harvey Elliott. The former right-back also added Jarell Quansah’s name in to the mix.
Given the fact that Doak, Elliott and Quansah have all left the club, Alexander-Arnold was clearly onto something.
Bradley may be a little hit and miss at times and his fitness is clearly a worry. But there has been more than enough during his 71 Liverpool appearances so far to see that he can have a future at Anfield.
Whether that is as the team’s regular starter or not may largely depend on if he can shake off those persistent injury concerns.
Should Bradley find fitness easier to come by, though, there is no reason for Liverpool to throw the towel in on him. If he leaves, he will simply go on to become a top player elsewhere. It may hurt to admit it, but Alexander-Arnold was right here. The Reds must persevere with Bradley.
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