Conor Bradley hits Liverpool roadblock thanks to Arne Slot
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley have learned their place in the pecking order under Arne Slot for the remainder of the season.
Liverpool could win the Premier League this weekend when they host Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday (27 April), which would allow them to finish off the season under zero pressure.
That has led to a lot of fans hoping for Bradley to be given some more opportunities in the starting lineup ahead of next season.
Alexander-Arnold is expected to be joining Real Madrid at the end of this season, therefore, an opportunity has opened up for someone to take his spot, with many supporters keen for that to be Bradley.
Arne Slot has made a decision about his right-back
It’s unknown at this point whether Arne Slot trusts Bradley enough to be his full-time right-back moving forward, or if Alexander-Arnold is really not going to sign a new deal.
However, if the England international does leave, then finding someone of his quality is going to be tricky for Liverpool.
Given the fact that Bradley has already proven his ability to play in the Premier League and in Slot’s system, he feels like a solid option for the Reds.
| 2024-25 Stats | Bradley |
| Appearances | 25 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Minutes Played | 1,163 |
However, Slot’s latest press conference has hinted that Bradley isn’t going to be handed the opportunities needed to develop this season, despite Alexander-Arnold’s imminent departure from Anfield in the summer.
He said, “It is going to be very important for him to become an even better player than he is now to play many games in a row.
“Unfortunately for him, there is also another full-back who is world-class at this club as well, with Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“That is probably the only reason he hasn’t played back-to-back games yet because he definitely has the quality to do so.
“I think that is the next step for him in his development, is to play every single week and feeling that pressure. And at a certain moment, that probably doesn’t feel like pressure anymore.
“That might be his next step, but as long as Trent is here, it’s going to be a difficult step for him to make as well. But they are both very good full-backs.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold playing will baffle some supporters
Slot has seemingly made it clear that he has no intention of dropping Alexander-Arnold now that he is back fit and available, but that is a decision that could anger fans.
Alexander-Arnold received some boos during his last Liverpool appearance, as supporters aren’t on board with him leaving the club this summer.
That negativity is something that could grow in the remaining weeks, while it is also a strange decision regarding Bradley’s development.
He could be the first-choice right-back next season, therefore, playing him every week would allow the young defender to start adjusting to that in preparation for next season, rather than giving Alexander-Arnold more game time in matches that will effectively mean nothing.