Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool supporters are looking forward to having their long-term injury worries eased in the coming days, with the return to training of Giovanni Leoni.
Leoni will be back next Monday after missing more than one full year with a knee problem, and he will hope to soon be joined by Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike, both of whom are reportedly aiming to be back by the new year.
Bradley’s is arguably the most needed, with Liverpool having to field all manner of players at right-back since he came off injured against Arsenal last January. There are big question marks over Jeremie Frimpong, and though Ronald Araujo is doing a good job for now, the Reds clearly need to nail down who will be their starting right-back for the long-term. According to the Liverpool ECHO, they have already done that, with Bradley still being given full backing.
Liverpool DP
Liverpool DP
Liverpool still want Bradley to come good
Even before his injury, there was a feeling that Bradley had not fully grasped his chance to take over starting duties following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit in 2025. Injuries have played a big part in that, but he hasn’t always been brilliant when playing either.
Nevertheless, the ECHO claim that Bradley will be given ‘time and space to make the position his own’ when he finally comes back from his latest long-term layoff.
That suggests that the Reds will not be buying a right-back anytime soon, and will keep faith in the idea that Bradley will be their man going forward.
Despite whatever reservations there may be over the Northern Irishman, Liverpool reportedly see his ‘brand of aggression and athleticism’ as being exactly what they want from their right-back.
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It is claimed that there has been an internal acceptance that Alexander-Arnold’s passing range cannot be replicated, no matter who is playing at right-back, and Liverpool see Bradley’s attributes as being perfectly suited as a result.
Although the Reds are seemingly happy to wait for the 23-year-old and gamble on him staying fit and being able to make up part of a consistent starting XI, Bradley is reportedly still understood to be ‘some way off’ being ready to play, meaning Liverpool will have to make do with Araujo, Frimpong and Joe Gomez for a little while yet.
Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images
Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images
Photo by Zak Kaczmarek - Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Zak Kaczmarek - Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
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