It’s TIME: Conor Bradley must get the Trent Alexander-Arnold treatment

The time has come for everyone to say it. Conor Bradley deserves the Trent Alexander-Arnold treatment.

Liverpool lost Trent Alexander-Arnold in the summer as the Scouser chose to join Real Madrid. It was a blow but one softened by the idea that Conor Bradley looked ready to step up.

Bradley was very, very solid last season, especially as Alexander-Arnold missed a few games through injury. It always looked like he had the ability to be Liverpool's new right-back, taking over the mantle from probably the best we've ever seen in the position.

His performance against Real Madrid in 2024 was stellar - Bradley looked like the complete right-back. He's now followed that up with an even better display at Anfield against Real Madrid and there can't really be any doubt that the Northern Ireland star is the replacement for Alexander-Arnold that we all hoped for.

If he can stay fit, anyway. Bradley remains a bit injury prone and that's a hurdle he must overcome. Do that and he can lock down that right-back spot for years to come.

But is that actually his future? Or is Bradley actually more like Alexander-Arnold than we thought in that his future position may face a similar question?

From Trent Alexander-Arnold to Conor Bradley

Alexander-Arnold was always a great right-back who had an incredible, world-leading ability to pass the ball. That ability led to questions that followed him throughout his Liverpool career - should he actually play in midfield?

After all, that's where great passers play. It felt natural to suggest it and both Jurgen Klopp and Gareth Southgate with England tried it.

Only, it never made a lot of sense. Why move Alexander-Arnold into an area with more defensive coverage? If he's capable of playing elite passes from right-back, let him remain in a space where defences don't know how to contain him.

Moreover, the benefit of moving him into midfield was never clear. He could already cover the entire pitch with his passing, so it would never widen his passing range. While he picked up double-digit assists - it was highly unlikely that he'd deliver even more just by moving into a different position.

With Bradley, though, it's different. He's now showing signs that he might actually be a midfielder for a few reasons.

Firstly, his all-around game is there. He's brilliant running with the ball, he can pass comfortably, he's a great tackler, and very smart with finding space. Bradley shows this all from right-back and that ability to find space in the box from right-back is truly extraordinary at times.

But they're all traits that do lend themselves to midfield and particularly this midfield. Bradley's fantastic space-finding quality is only going to improve if you give him the entire pitch to find it.

His energy becomes even more vital if he's covering more of the pitch. And running with the ball is much easier when you don't have the touchline in your way.

Bradley may still need to lock down right-back and establish himself as Liverpool's first-choice. But it's easy to wonder if he'll follow Alexander-Arnold's path in eventually facing calls for a midfield move.

Because he might just be built for it.

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