Conor Bradley has dedicated his long-term future at Liverpool and with Trent Alexander-Arnold bidding farewell, his time has come to stake the declare as an everyday starter.
The Northern Irishman shortly grew to become one of many key speaking factors all through the season due to the contract farce that adopted the membership’s vice-captain up till the title was confirmed.
Bradley made his career-high appearances for the membership all through 2024/25 and confirmed loads of promise for what’s to come back, however accidents continued to have their approach with the younger right-back.
CONOR BRADLEY, 2024/25
Began: 14 (All competitions)
On as an alternative: 15
Unused sub: 7
Objectives: 0
Assists: 4
General Season Score: 7.2
Crunching tackles and depth
Bradley’s dedication to the membership till 2027 underlines the place Liverpool and the participant see their relationship heading, each desperate to get probably the most from each other.
The 21-year-old continues to develop at a powerful fee and has shortly endeared himself to the fanbase together with his vitality, depth and willingness to work for the group.
“Conor has such an intense enjoying model,” Slot assessed earlier this yr.
“All of them run so much however Conor is in his personal league on the subject of operating so much, comparable possibly with Achraf Hakimi at PSG. He’s in every single place throughout the sport.”
If there’s one factor we will assure about Bradley, it’s that he’ll make each effort to get again and assist his fellow defenders quite than watch all of it unfold from a distance.
His management credentials had been additionally within the highlight after taking the captain’s armband for Northern Eire throughout the November break – Liverpool can by no means have too many leaders.
Whereas there are areas for enchancment, specifically near his field, Bradley provides a distinct ability set to that of his predecessor, as he exemplified within the 2-0 win over Actual Madrid.
He minimize off any hazard on the counter from the Spanish aspect, who can overlook that completely timed sort out on Kylian Mbappe that had Anfield on its toes as if the full-back had scored.
Whereas incapable of replicating the No. 66’s passing vary, few are, Bradley then confirmed his capacity to affect play when shifting inside, ending up with a headed likelihood earlier than establishing Alexis Mac Allister‘s objective.
Together with his positional sense rising, Bradley has proved himself a dependable operator at right-back however there’s one main subject that threatens his long-term future as a first-choice starter.
Accidents stay a giant concern
Though Liverpool’s damage scenario improved drastically beneath the tutelage of Slot, Bradley couldn’t escape the clutches of the therapy room having missed 19 video games in all competitions.
Solely Joe Gomez (24) missed extra for the Reds, with the duo accounting for 33.3 p.c of the matches missed by senior gamers.
On 4 completely different events, Bradley succumbed to a health subject, primarily to his hamstring, which required Slot and the medical group to handle his minutes all through the season.
The 21-year-old, subsequently, accomplished a full 90 minutes simply 5 occasions – that features only one within the Premier League at Southampton in November.
For a participant anticipated to shoulder significantly extra accountability after Alexander-Arnold’s departure, it’s not a run of constant minutes and video games that instil confidence.
In 2023/24, Bradley additionally missed 23 video games primarily resulting from a stress fracture in his again, which means he has now been unavailable for 42 video games throughout two seasons – equal to 36.8 p.c of Liverpool’s video games.
It’s the huge query mark dealing with Bradley and his future, if he can keep match. Nonetheless, he insisted upon signing his new long-term that he feels “bodily robust.”
“I feel greater than something I’m simply rising into my physique a bit extra now,” he advised the membership’s web site.
“I really feel much more bodily robust, I really feel faster, I really feel extra highly effective – and I feel that’s actually serving to me once I do play video games.”
With Jeremie Frimpong having already arrived so as to add depth to the correct flank, Bradley shall be beneath no disillusion as to the degrees of consistency he wants to search out together with his physique in 2025/26.
Succession, competitors and damage administration
As quickly as Alexander-Arnold formally introduced he wouldn’t be staying at Anfield past the summer season, Bradley grew to become the de facto first-choice right-back at Liverpool.
It lists an entire new set of calls for and Slot was greater than conscious of the “subsequent step” wanted in Bradley’s growth.
He mentioned: “I feel that’s the subsequent step for him in his growth, enjoying each single week and feeling that stress, and at a sure second in all probability that doesn’t really feel like stress anymore.”
Bradley’s longest spell within the XI in 2024/25 was the three video games to shut out the season, the succession plan in movement earlier than Frimpong was shortly signed.
The Dutchman’s arrival casts doubt over the function Bradley may have shifting ahead, however the chances are the Northern Irishman will characteristic closely, with Slot having the choice to rotate.
Lots will relaxation within the arms of Bradley’s capacity to remain match, with the health division to proceed to plan and tweak their coaching plan that ensures he avoids additional points that preserve him out of the aspect.
With a brand new contract signed till 2027, Bradley shall be decided to take the title because the first-choice right-back, however to do this he should present he may be relied on week in, and week out.
Greatest second: Completely timed crunching sort out on Kylian Mbappe. It was wonderful.
Worst second: Defensive lapse in defeat to Forest at Anfield.
Position subsequent season: Common starter at right-back, competitors from Frimpong
