Conor Bradley’s arrival gives Liverpool a wonderful problem to solve
The whipped cross resembles it uncannily. A similar shot is the one that arrows into the lower corner. Maybe even better is the combative defending.
Conor Bradley is really starting to pull off his best Trent Alexander-Arnold impression. In Liverpool’s right channel, there is actually something in the water.
After Wednesday’s thumping of Chelsea, the 20-year-old has contributed five goals in his previous two games thanks to his goal and two assists. all season long, more assists than Bruno Fernandes.
Bradley’s unexpected rise presents Jurgen Klopp with a real Gareth Southgate selection issue, even though he was eager to brush it off after the game.
Even with the England manager’s best efforts, you can only really deploy two full-backs, despite the fact that they are extremely vital to many sides in the current game.
Joe Gomez is untrappable right now and undoubtedly very much on Southgate’s radar for his Euro 2024 full-back army, even though he is playing out of position. Then, with Andy Robertson finally returning to full fitness, Klopp must also attempt to take the Scot back into account.
However, it’s Bradley who has Klopp thinking seriously. He became the youngest Liverpool player to score and assist on a goal in a Premier League game since Raheem Sterling in August 2014. The game was against Chelsea.
What was most notable was the caliber of their goal contributions. Anfield was in dismay as Bradley charged forward and scored his first senior goal with an incredible first-half strike. The crowd sang the name of a guy who was playing against Cheltenham this time last season when Bradley’s cross on Dominik Szoboszlai’s head in the second half.
But not everyone finds Bradley’s easy transition to life as a sensational Liverpool full-back surprising.
After the game, Klopp remarked, “I’ve known it for a while.” “(Coach) Vitor Matos is instructing me, and Pep Lijnders is in my left ear. It didn’t take much persuasion for me to fall in love with him since the beginning.
Conor, when on loan at Bolton, performed exceptionally well during the preseason. He returns, plays well in the preseason, looks great, and misses four months.
“Thank heavens, time would solve it. Since he returned, watching him has been enjoyable, and the academy deserves all the credit.
Klopp needs to think outside the box because he cannot afford to sit the fit-again Alexander-Arnold, not in this form. The fact that Liverpool’s midfield is arguably the one area of the game where they are not overrun with certain starts is undoubtedly helpful.
In the front row, Darwin Nunez has been the star of Klopp’s farewell tour thanks to his all-around play, despite his hilarious troubles with the woodwork; Diogo Jota is back to full strength and is scoring; Mohamed Salah will soon return to England; and Luis Diaz’s comeback is gaining momentum every week. Nor does Cody Gakpo deserve to be left out in the cold.
Though he is still young, Curtis Jones is undoubtedly Liverpool’s best midfield player. Szoboszlai has glimpses of brilliance, but consistency is a problem. Alexis Mac Allister is excellent as a No. 6, but his attacking instincts can expose the Reds’ defence.
Although not everyone believes Alexander-Arnold can be a permanent fixture in the engine room, he is still a rough diamond in midfield, and Klopp will undoubtedly be up for the challenge because it is the ideal farewell present.
Alexander-Arnold has the ability to develop into a creative midfield player of the next generation from deep because of his exceptional passing radar. All the rough diamond needs is a little polish.
In the past, Klopp has been hesitant to break out his polishing pads because he did not want to forfeit the opportunities the hometown hero provides on the flank.
But if the past two games give any indication, such worries are unfounded. Although there is still much to be done, Bradley and Gomez provide Klopp with the necessary cover to finish his long-awaited Alexander-Arnold midfield experiment.
