Conor Bradley put on a very good showing in the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold as Liverpool thrashed Bournemouth 4-0 on Sunday.
This was a very commanding and eye-catching performance from Jurgen Klopp’s side because it was against one of the form teams in the division.
Plus, with Mohamed Salah absent, and both fullbacks out injured, not only were the three points secured by Liverpool, but a valuable clean sheet.
Conor Bradley played a huge role in that and Ian Wright discussed the possibility of the 20-year-old starting with Trent Alexander-Arnold, as he told Premier League Productions (22/01/24 at 2:20 pm).
The former Arsenal striker pointed out that Jurgen Klopp knows that he now has a ’solid’ right-back in Conor Bradley, who he feels was targeted by the Bournemouth players, but he came through it all.
The Northern Irishman will continue to play at right-back until Trent Alexander-Arnold returns and there is every chance he will start against Arsenal at the start of next month.
Whatever happens, he is playing these next few weeks and it will provide Jurgen Klopp with answers on how his young star copes in such an environment.
But could Liverpool fans possibly see their academy duo on the pitch together, but with Trent in the middle of the park?
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley
“What was interesting to watch was that you could see that Bournemouth definitely targeted him because when they got the ball, he was like the trigger,” said Wright.
“That’s the kind of thing, any more pressure than what you are already thinking, such as ‘I don’t want to give the ball away’, is a nightmare, so to have a team targeting you, it must be really daunting. You could see in the first half. How are you not going to be nervous?
“But he got through it. What’s great about that is they weren’t losing games. They weren’t under immense pressure. But he stayed on, so he can learn through that, because he learned so much from that game. Then we saw in the second half he came through and he assisted.
“You know that there is a solid right-back. It will be interesting (if Klopp plays Trent in midfield and Bradley at RB) because Jurgen has never played him in the middle. When you watch Trent, at the moment, especially in the build-up. The guy can pop up anywhere. I don’t know how it will work out.
“I think it would be beneficial for Liverpool if they have got a right-back who can do that job because then Trent’s position becomes interesting because where does he start?”
Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield
The one man who does pick Alexander-Arnold in midfield is Gareth Southgate at England.
What’s ironic about all of this is that England’s style of play under Southgate doesn’t suit Trent’s game because they sit too much in their shape.
But perhaps, in the long run, Klopp will watch Trent in action for England, as well as Bradley rising forward and then fans will get to see their wishes come true.
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