Liverpool ‘accept Alexander-Arnold defeat’ amid new Conor Bradley update
Arne Slot has had an embarrassment of riches at right-back at Liverpool in the form of Conor Bradley and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool have no less than four academy players who have made regular appearances for the first-team this term, a rarity at the Premier League’s top end and testament to the strength of their production line.
Two of that quartet have been vying for supremacy at right-back throughout this term, with Alexander-Arnold and Bradley both getting forward to chip in with goals and assists at the other end of the pitch.
Much of the discussion surrounding Alexander-Arnold in particular, however, has been regarding the 26-year-old’s expiring contract, leaving the Reds with a decision to make on both players this summer.
Liverpool launch new Conor Bradley contract talks
Although their efforts to tie Alexander-Arnold down to a new deal at Anfield have proven unsuccessful, Liverpool are keen to do just that with his understudy; who some already rate as a better fit in Slot’s side.
| Player | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | 36 | 32 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Conor Bradley | 21 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
The Liverpool Echo reported on 3 March that the Reds’ hierarchy and Bradley’s representatives are locked in talks to sign the 21-year-old down to a new and improved deal, following his progress this term.
Bradley is currently under contract until 2027 after signing his most recent deal in December 2023, but with Alexander-Arnold bound for the exit door, Liverpool want to tie down his long-term successor.
Liverpool priorities clear amid Bradley contract developments
Engaging Bradley and his representatives in contract talks over two years away from his current deal expiring showcases solid forward-thinking by the Reds, which they’ve been accused of lacking lately.
Alexander-Arnold is far from the only world-class Liverpool player whose contract is ticking towards expiry, with both skipper Virgil van Dijk and talisman Mohamed Salah’s deals also coming to an end.
The Reds losing arguably their best three players in one fell swoop would be a crushing blow to put a serious dampener on a potential Premier League title win, and even one leaving will sting for Reds fans.
Bradley’s contract talks, therefore, are a promising development amid a whirlwind of so-far unsuccessful negotiations, and suggest Liverpool are consigned to losing Alexander-Arnold at the end of the season.
With age on his side and providing the skillset of a more conventional full-back, Bradley locking down his position on the right flank of Liverpool’s defence will be another feather in the Reds academy’s caps.