A closer look at Conor Bradley in comparison to Trent Alexander-Arnold as it looks like the Liverpool right-back is heading to Real Madrid at the end of the season
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Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot and Liverpool's Northern Irish defender #84 Conor Bradley celebrates after the UEFA Champions League football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 27, 2024. Liverpool won the match 2-0. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot and Liverpool's Northern Irish defender #84 Conor Bradley celebrates after the UEFA Champions League football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 27, 2024. Liverpool won the match 2-0. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Arne Slot will hope Conor Bradley can fill the void(Image: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Conor Bradley has been built as the heir apparent for over 12 months now. Liverpool fans still won’t want his coronation to happen as soon as this summer though. But as Real Madrid look to close a deal for Trent Alexander-Arnold in the coming weeks, Bradley will have to be ready to step up next season.
The Northern Ireland international made his big break through last term. The goal and performance against Chelsea in January 2024 had many wondering how the Reds could keep the right-back happy with someone like Alexander-Arnold ahead of him in the pecking order.
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Yet now, at 21, that regular starting spot may be up for grabs should Alexander-Arnold head to Spain in the summer for longer than a two-week holiday. Liverpool may dip into the market for a right-back.
It remains to be seen if that is to start or to be Bradley’s understudy or competition. But will the Northern Irish defender change the way Liverpool play?
"[Bradley is] a completely different player to Trent Alexander-Arnold," said former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman. “Trent's numbers in an attacking sense are absolutely fantastic... but Liverpool fans and everybody will hope that Conor Bradley will be able to fill that void.
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“You have a standard level and every year, you try and improve and get better and better. We all hope that Conor Bradley achieves that and becomes the superstar that people are talking about when they talk about Trent Alexander-Arnold.”
It is hard to compare the pair given Bradley’s minutes in comparison to Alexander-Arnold. The eye test would tell you that Liverpool have a really good player, if he can shake off the injury issues which have punctured his progress a little. He hasn’t played since the end of February when he came on against Aston Villa.
Bradley had a hamstring issue earlier in the campaign and an ankle problem towards the end of last season after he had overcome a long-term back injury. He has made 23 Premier League appearances and 12 starts since last season, but just 1,125 minutes compared to Alexander-Arnold’s 4316.
Conor Bradley
Bradley has been impressive in the games he has played
So when comparing the two it should be noted it is a much smaller sample size for Bradley. But while Alexander-Arnold is not as creative as he was under Jurgen Klopp’s way of playing, Bradley still stacks up favourably.
He has 0.24 assists per 90 minutes in comparison to Alexander-Arnold’s 0.21. His chances created are significantly lower with 15 which is 1.2 per game while Alexander-Arnold is 115 at 2.4 per game. A significant number of those are from set-pieces though and open play it is 1.6 to 1.2 in Alexander-Arnold’s favour.
The fact Bradley has made 54.4 passes per game compared to Alexander-Arnold’s 65.7 doesn’t suggest a huge gulf in how much they get on the ball. While Bradley is slightly ahead when it comes to duel success with 55 per cent of his 160 won compared to 45.9 by Alexander-Arnold.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Conor Bradley of Liverpool shakes hands with team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold as he leaves the field injured during the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Liverpool FC at Villa Park on February 19, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Conor Bradley will need to step up if - as expected - Trent Alexander-Arnold moves to the Spanish capital
While they stack up quite evenly when it comes to tackles, interceptions and possession. There’s not a huge difference in the numbers, but the stats can’t convey presence on the pitch and picking the passes at the right moments to unlock doors earlier in attacks which Alexander-Arnold has been so key at.
The Madrid-bound right-back may have questions over his defensive capabilities but he will be hard to replace, even for a talent like Bradley.
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