It’s easy to forget that Conor Bradley missed the first 19 games of the season, such was his incredible breakthrough into the side, and is now firmly ensconced in the first team.
Having played a full season in League One the year before, Bradley was ready to take his chance to impress but had to wait patiently due to injury.
A stress fracture in his back forced him to the sidelines for four months, but after returning in November, he went from strength to strength.
“The right prospect for us. We’re really counting on him,” Jurgen Klopp declared shortly after the youngster’s return – it was just a sign of things to come.
Conor Bradley, 2023/24
Started: 17 (All competitions)
Included as a replacement: 6
Unused pad: 9
Objectives: 1
Assists: 6
Overall Season Rating: 8.07
The frustration of not looking back
After showing promise in an inverted Trent Alexander-Arnold role during the European phase of pre-season, Bradley’s hopes of a strong start were dashed by a stress fracture in his back.
He missed the trip to Singapore and the following first 19 games of the campaign – a time in which the vice-captain also missed four games through injury.
That frustration, however, slowly turned into an opportunity for Bradley, who started two games in a run of 11 on his return to the first team.
A difficult night against Union SG prompted Klopp to say “he has to learn”, and he has.
When Alexander-Arnold spent the first of his two spells on the sidelines with a knee injury, Bradley came into his own, so much so that there was debate over whether the number 66 should be kept out of the XI.
Imagine if you said that last summer!
In a run of five games that began against Fulham in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final, Bradley was unstoppable – showing bravery in defense and offering a strong threat in the final third.
Klopp praised his youngster at the time, saying: “Fantastic character, real talent, top potential – and he’s in the right team, because everyone loves him, everyone respects him, everyone wants him to succeed.”
This run in the XI returned one goal and five assists, although half of those contributions came during his electric performance against Chelsea at Anfield.
It was individual brilliance at its best, and what made it even more stunning was that Bradley had made his Premier League debut just 10 days earlier.
An outing that made everyone sit up and take notice, and no wonder ‘There’s only one Conor Bradley’ echoed around Anfield.
“My moment of pinching myself was probably against Chelsea when I scored a goal and got two assists. The fans chanting my name was pretty special,” he would later reflect.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’ll have a better night than that.”
Seizing the opportunity
Just days after living out his boyhood dream of scoring at Anfield, Bradley returned to Northern Ireland following the tragic death of his father.
He got all the time and support he needed, recognition from the club and Klopp’s insistence that the person come before the player.
The 20-year-old controlled his return and with Alexander-Arnold set for his longest stay in the treatment room, Bradley started 11 of the next 13 games after returning to Merseyside.
During that time he started the League Cup final, faced Man City at Anfield and registered another assist – another timely recognition of his meteoric rise.
From a loan spell in League One with Bolton to lifting the trophy for his boyhood club, does it get much better?
This period has been his most consistent run in the starting line-up, and had it not been for the injury against Crystal Palace, we might have seen more debate surrounding him and Alexander-Arnold.
He has come of age under Klopp and is now a genuine senior right-back for the foreseeable future.
The slot can be good for Bradley
There will always be uncertainty when a new manager arrives, but in Arne Slott, Liverpool have another boss who will give the club’s youngsters a chance.
Bradley usually stuck to the right-back wing, but at times took on the Alexander-Arnold role further up the field.
He has the ability to do so, and having cemented himself as a long-term first-team player, it will be intriguing to see how the 20-year-old develops under Slott’s tutelage.
The Dutchman makes heavy use of his full-back and they tend to invert during the team-building phase, placing more emphasis on Bradley’s ability on the ball.
He is young and adaptable and has shown characteristics of both Andy Robertson and Alexander-Arnold in his game, not a bad skill set!
Bradley’s next challenge will be consistency and further physical growth to sustain a full season at the highest level.
Best moment: Player of the match performance against Chelsea – one goal and two assists.
Worst moment: Own goals against Sparta Prague and Sheffield United.
Role next season: Match in the first team.
