Conor Bradley has got some EXPLAINING to do

There are a lot of leaders around Liverpool. The evidence is borne out by the number of international captains in the Reds’ first-team ranks.

Virgil van Dijk is Liverpool’s captain and also skippers his country the Netherlands. Then there’s Japan captain Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai of Hungary, Andy Robertson of Scotland and Mohamed Salah - who is the Egypt skipper.

And even though he’s just 22 - Conor Bradley is captain of Northern Ireland.

One of the privileges that comes along with being an international captain is a vote in The Best FIFA Men's Player award and there is no rule against selecting a clubmate.

And in the case of Liverpool’s international captains it was an opportunity to show their gratitude and appreciation for Salah.

Liverpool players hail Salah

The Liverpool forward enjoyed perhaps the best individual season in Premier League history as the Reds claimed the 2024/25 crown.

He scored 29 goals and added 18 assists across the league season - finishing with a total of 57 goal contributions in just 52 matches overall.

We may never see the likes again.

And Szoboszlai voted Salah top of the rankings - ahead of French pair Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe. Endo too went with Salah - with Dembele and PSG clubmate Nuno Mendes behind the Egyptian King.

Van Dijk voted the same way as Endo - with Salah, Dembele and Mendes as his 1, 2 and 3. And Robertson too thought the same as both Endo and Van Dijk with the same trio on his podium.

That of course demonstrates a wonderful solidarity on the part of Liverpool’s players - doing all they can to help Salah get recognition in the final voting shakeup.

For his part Salah went for Achraf Hakimi, Dembele and Mbappe.

Bradley chooses Yamal over Salah

The exception among Liverpool players putting Salah on top?

Bradley went for Lamine Yamal - a shocking state of affairs for Salah’s club teammate. The right-back did in fairness go for Salah in second place and he had Dembele down in third.

But the order of Bradley’s voting surely throws up some awkward questions.

First of all - there is no dispute that Salah had a better season than Yamal. The Spaniard won the Spanish title as well as the Copa del Rey with the Spanish Supercup thrown in for good measure.

But the consistency of his performances - not to mention the sheer weight of numbers - just don’t match up to Salah’s.

Salah snubs continue

It’s a good thing that MOST of Liverpool’s captains could see it - but Bradley’s votes are certainly a headscratcher.

At a time when the wider football world constantly disrespects Salah - be it the Confederation of African Football, FIFPRO or the Ballon d’Or voting panel - he needs all the support he can get from within the club.

There isn’t a lot more Salah could have done in the voting period stipulated - and if there’s a Premier League winners’ medal around Conor Bradley’s neck today then he would do well to remember the player who did more than anyone else to put it there.

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