Trent Alexander-Arnold has had a troubled first season at Real Madrid, leading to suggestions he could return to Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold following his return to Anfield with Real Madrid
There are fresh calls for Trent Alexander-Arnold to return to Anfield(Image: Getty Images)
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Trent Alexander-Arnold has been given the green light to return to Liverpool amid fears over Conor Bradley's fitness. Right-back has been a problem position for the Reds since Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid last summer.
Summer signing Jeremie Frimpong has had injury issues, while Bradley has been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery. Arne Slot has been forced to put square pegs in round holes, with centre-back Joe Gomez and midfielders Wataru Endo, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai being deployed on the right side of defence at times.
Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold's troubled first season in Madrid, which has seen him struggle to hold down a first-team place, has led to suggestions he could return to his spiritual home. That prospect is supported by former Reds right-back Glen Johnson, who is also a fan of Bradley.
He told Boyle Sport: "Who would be my choice to be Liverpool’s starting right-back next season? You'd love to see Trent back, of course you would."
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If Alexander-Arnold doesn't return, Johnson is sure Bradley has the ability to hold down the position long-term, provided he can overcome his injury woes.
He added: "In terms of the future of Liverpool, I think as long as he comes back fit, Conor Bradley for me, as long as he can recover from that injury.
Conor Bradley
Conor Bradley faces a long road back to fitness(Image: Getty Images)
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"Obviously, it's a nasty one. As long as he can get back to fitness and get games under his belt, match fitness, confidence, and kick on from his previous best, then I think you've got a fantastic right-back there.
"Bradley looks more athletic, stronger, with more desire to defend, but keen to get forward in attacks as well. So I think, all round, he would be the man for me."
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KIRKBY, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 26: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Jeremie Frimpong of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on February 26, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Jeremie Frimpong has had a tough first season at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
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Johnson still sees a role for Frimpong, saying: "Against certain teams that are going to sit back and need to be broken down, then Jeremie Frimpong could be the answer for certain home games and things like that."
The fit-again Frimpong was Liverpool's right-back for the 2-1 defeat at rock-bottom Wolves, replacing Gomez in the starting line-up. With options limited, he could keep his place for the FA Cup trip to Molineux on Friday.
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