The ECHO's end-of-season ratings continue with Conor Bradley, who now has a new challenge at Liverpool
Comments
Sport
Conor Bradley of Liverpool
Conor Bradley of Liverpool(Image: Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold was still a few weeks away from going public with his decision to leave Liverpool. But already Arne Slot was mapping out the new challenge facing Conor Bradley.
"The next step for him in his development is to play every single week and feel that pressure," said the Reds boss. "And at a certain moment, that probably doesn’t feel like pressure anymore."
But if the sizeable obstacle of Alexander-Arnold was removed in the competition to regularly start at right-back, it was almost immediately replaced by another in the form of £29million arrival Jeremie Frimpong.
READ MORE: Liverpool goalkeeper signs new contract as transfer confirmedREAD MORE: Pep Guardiola reveals Jurgen Klopp talks before controversial Liverpool move - 'I asked permission'
In truth, there was little chance Liverpool wouldn't replace the ultimately Real Madrid-bound Alexander-Arnold. But the closing stages of the season, in which he started five of the final seven Premier League games, provided Bradley a platform to build momentum going into the new campaign.
It was perhaps required given the stop-start nature of the season for the 21-year-old who, as with last season, saw his progress checked by inopportune injury.
The first came in November when, having capitalised on a fitness issue for Alexander-Arnold to post a handful of solid performances including a Kylian Mbappe-thwarting stint in the Champions League, he suffered a hamstring injury in the closing stages of that win over Real Madrid and was ruled out for six weeks.
Article continues below
Bradley struggled to find his best form on his return as he continued to travel an occasionally steep learning curve. A difficult first away derby experience against Everton was cut short before Bradley was sent off, and his still understandably raw defending was exposed in the 3-2 Champions League defeat at PSV Eindhoven.
But then came another hamstring injury that ruled him out of a succession of key games, including the Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain and the League Cup final loss to Newcastle United. Given Alexander-Arnold picked up an injury in the former that ruled him out of the latter, Bradley was a big miss.
"Unfortunately he hasn't been fit all season and to become a very good player you have to be available and fit every week," said Slot in May, a further test for the youngster to address.
Article continues below
It's worth bearing in mind Bradley has only ever started 17 Premier League games, all of which have come during the last 18 months. There remains much more untapped potential in the Northern Ireland international and plenty of time for growth.
Expected greater rotation on the right flank means Bradley will have the opportunity to continue improving. Maintaining availability, though, will surely be his main target in the new season.
Season rating: 7