Published on 01.02.2024
In the weeks leading up to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s knee injury, there was a lot of debate surrounding his ideal position for Liverpool – should he play at right-back or in midfield?
However, Conor Bradley’s impressive performances at right-back may have settled the argument. The 20-year-old Northern Ireland international has been getting better with each appearance this season. This culminated in him scoring his first goal for Liverpool during Wednesday’s 4-1 Premier League victory over Chelsea, where he also provided two assists.
It's only fitting that in Jürgen Klopp's final season another electric Liverpool vs. Man City title race feels inevitable ⚖️ pic.twitter.com/LQrBYydRxq
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 31, 2024
Bradley’s displays have certainly given Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, a bit of a dilemma. Alexander-Arnold, who was once hailed as one of the best full-backs in the world by Cafu himself, cannot be left on the bench. At the same time, it would be unfair to drop Bradley after his excellent performances.
Robbie Fowler, former Liverpool striker and now pundit on TNT Sports expressed praise for Bradley saying: “He was absolutely magnificent… Every Liverpool player played brilliantly but that performance from Bradley was something special… I’m not sure you can leave him out of the side.”
The emergence of Conor Bradley has added an interesting dynamic to Liverpool’s lineup decisions. With both players performing exceptionally well in their respective positions and contributing significantly to their team’s success; it will be intriguing to see how Klopp manages this situation moving forward.
Just a year ago, Bradley was a player in League One for Bolton. Fast forward to today and he is now proving to be an integral part of a Premier League team that sits at the top of the standings.
“It’s an incredibly proud moment, something I’ve dreamt about for a long time,” Bradley expressed to TNT Sports. “It feels like I’m living in a dream. It’s absolutely unbelievable.”
“When it went in, I couldn’t even believe it myself. I didn’t know how to react. I ran over to the corner and did a knee slide. It was amazing.”
When asked about his own performances since Alexander-Arnold’s injury, Bradley commented: “I just had to seize my opportunity. I think overall, I’ve been performing pretty well.”
Bradley mentioned that the surprising news of Klopp’s decision to leave the club at the end of the season has given him and his teammates extra motivation for the second half of this season as they strive for multiple championship titles.
