Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised Conor Bradley as the natural heir to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s right-back position for the Reds, even likening the 21-year-old to Paris Saint-Germain’s dynamic defender Achraf Hakimi.
Alexander-Arnold has officially announced that he will end his 20-year tenure with Liverpool when his contract concludes in June. Despite the speculation about new acquisitions to fill the void left by the departing creative force, Slot has openly expressed his faith in Bradley’s capability to assume a first-team position.
“Conor plays with such intensity,” the Reds boss admired this week. “Everyone covers a lot of ground, but Conor operates on a different level. Perhaps he’s similar to Hakimi at PSG. He’s all over the field during the match too,” he added.
Hakimi’s all-action style was too much for Arsenal to handle. The tireless full-back scored PSG’s second goal in a 2-1 victory over the Gunners in midweek to confirm his side’s spot in the Champions League final.
“But Hakimi is 26,” Slot warned. “He is much more used to doing this every single week. He needs time, Conor, and a good programme to keep him fit.”
Bradley filled in admirably for Alexander-Arnold after his teammate was sidelined through injury earlier this season. However, the Northern Ireland international picked up a muscular issue of his own which forced Slot to field Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah and even midfielder Curtis Jones at right-back on occasion.
“To become a very good player you have to be available every week, and that is the first step he has to take next season,” Slot noted. “But we have confidence in Conor as a very good full back for Liverpool and that is already what he has shown.”
As evidence for Bradley’s impending progression, the head coach pointed to Liverpool’s history of supreme succession planning, starting with himself.
“There were quite a lot of questions about me replacing Jurgen [Klopp] and there were so many examples of people leaving this club,” the Dutch coach noted. “Kevin Keegan left, Kenny Dalglish arrived. We all felt disappointed, we felt sad, but we know this club will generate new stars again.”
Alexander-Arnold has undoubtedly been one of his generation’s brightest talents and Slot didn’t hide his “disappointment” at the defender’s decision to leave. “We are going to miss a very good human being and a very, very, very good full back,” the manager sighed. “We tried to keep him here. If that does not work out, of course, you are disappointed.”
