Conor Bradley has reflected on the moment he thought his Liverpool career could be over and the task of usurping Trent Alexander-Arnold.Conor Bradley has had quite the week.
Having captained Northern Ireland proudly for the first time a few days earlier, the Liverpool youngster wore the armband on home soil as his country thumped Bulgaria 5-0 in their UEFA Nations League match on Sunday.
It continued a 2024 of progress for the right-back, who finally became a first-team squad regular with the Reds during the early months of the year, won his first major silverware for the club and has already become an integral option for new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
But when Bradley was urged to take a loan move at League One side Bolton Wanderers at the start of the 2022/23 season, the defender couldn’t help but feel a sense of trepidation.
They told me that they wouldn’t forget about me when I was out on loan,” says the 21-year-old. “But at the time, you don’t really believe it. You think ‘a loan, that’s sort of me done here’. But you have to keep working hard.
I played around 50 games for Bolton and it was the best thing for me at that time. It turned me into what I am now, it changed me from a boy into a man. I’m so grateful for the opportunity Bolton gave me to go and play so many games there. It got me ready for coming back at Liverpool and giving it my best shot.
After the setback of an injury last summer, Bradley – who moved to the Liverpool Academy more than five years ago – returned just before Christmas in time to deputise for the absent Trent Alexander-Arnold and prove he merited a career at Anfield.
He ended the season with 23 outings and has already made six this campaign.“Everybody knows how good Trent is,” says Bradley. “He’s one of a kind as a footballer.
But my aim is the same as last season – whenever I get a chance to be on the pitch I’m going to do my best to help the team. It’s about winning the games and giving my all.“I know I’ve got some decent competition.
If I’m training well, hopefully it can push Trent on and that can only be good for the team.”The most immediate challenge is in-form Chelsea when leaders Liverpool resume their Premier League challenge at Anfield on Sunday.
It was in the same fixture in January that Bradley scored his first Reds goal and contributed two assists in a 4-1 thumping, while the Londoners were the opposition in the League Cup final win at Wembley he started the following month.
I’ve got some special memories against Chelsea,” says the Northern Irishman. “The first one was at Anfield in my home debut in the Premier League, that was a special night and something I’ll remember forever.
Then there was the League Cup final, which felt like a win against the odds when we were playing the game. We just had so many injuries. I started at right-back and 20 minutes in I had to move to the right wing because Ryan (Gravenberch) got injured.“It was a crazy experience and a day I’ll never forget. Winning a trophy for my dream football club is pretty special. It was a wonderful day.
I’d played in a final with Bolton the year before (the EFL Trophy in which Plymouth Argyle were beaten 4-0 at Wembley) and that was a good experience as well. It probably got me ready for what was coming the following year. I knew what to expect.
That was a good step for me.”Of his whirlwind start to this year, Bradley adds: “It was a long time ago that I’d made by debut (September 2021 in League Cup at Norwich) so it has been a long journey.
Obviously I had to go out on loan to prove myself. Then I came back, I did my pre-season and then got an injury which meant I was out for four months. When I got back fit, everything sort of fell in place for me.
Trent got injured, and it gave me an opportunity and I tried to take it the best I could. At that stage I was playing twice a week and it was brilliant for me.”Not that there has ever been a precise moment when Bradley began regarding himself as a first-team player at Liverpool.
No, I think it’s just a gradual thing,” he says. “It’s a mad thing to describe – you are used to always being the young kid coming through the ranks, and you’re really nervous when you first come in as you’re around big stars.“I don’t think there’s an actual point where it changes. It’s just gradually getting used to it and feeling comfortable around the boys. Now I enjoy playing my football with them.
Bradley was one of 43 Liverpool Academy players given a debut by former boss Jurgen Klopp with only current team-mates Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Caoimhin Kelleher and Jarell Quansah having made more appearances for the Reds.“I’m so grateful for him giving me my chance in the first team,” he says of Klopp.
“He was a special manager, especially with the young players. He always made us feel welcome, and he made sure we were looked after.“With Pep (Lijnders) and Vitor (Matos), they probably knew about me a bit longer than Jurgen did from watching Academy games.
They saw me. But Jurgen was really special.”Bradley is already embracing the new era under Slot and has highlighted how matters have changed under the Dutchman.“Obviously there are some differences,” he says. “In most parts it’s quite similar.
I’d say the new manager has a bit more structure in the way he wants us to build up from the back and play through midfield and switch it when we can. I’ve really enjoyed working with the new gaffer.
It’s been really good so far and hopefully it continues like that.“Under Jurgen it was a bit chaotic at times and that was how he wanted us to play and the results suggest there was nothing wrong with that.
But it’s definitely more controlled now. The new manager doesn’t want me running up and down the wing forever. He wants me to stay in position and do what he wants, he wants you in a certain position at every stage during the game.
It’s quite tactical but I’m enjoying it and I’ve learned a lot in the last few months.”And Bradley is setting his sights high this campaign.
The aim is to win the Premier League,” he says. “Every year you play for Liverpool Football Club, the aim has to be to win trophies. We know it’s going to be difficult with City and Arsenal, massive clubs who have bought well.
Personally I’m hoping for chances to play in the Champions League. I played in the San Siro back in December 2021 and it was a special night for me, a famous stadium. I am looking forward to more minutes in that competition.
