TAA and Reds staying focused
AS a diehard Liverpool fan growing up, Conor Bradley had Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez shirts – but Gareth Bale was the player he studied.
He marvelled at Bale when he was starring for Real Madrid and Wales as one of the best wingers in the world.
Bradley, 20, was a winger before Liverpool switched him to right-back for their Under-18s and says Bale was the player he modelled himself on.
“He was my idol growing up,” he said. “He was someone I watched a lot.
“He got his big move to Real Madrid and Wales are a small nation, but he was their best player for so many years.
“When I was younger I was a winger as well, so he was someone I looked up to because he was one of the best in the world.
“I just really enjoyed watching him play. I thought he was an unbelievable player and some of the stuff he did on the football magnificent.”
Bradley is more than a right-back for Liverpool and although he is expected to slot in there against Brighton today at Anfield, he can play anywhere on that flank.
He operated in defence, midfield and attack in the Carabao Cup Final as Jurgen Klopp was forced to repeatedly change his line-up.
Bradley is relaxed about what might happen when Trent AlexanderArnold returns from injury and feels they are versatile enough to play together.
“It’s a blessing in a way because I can learn so much off Trent,” he said. pitch was
Today:
v Brighton
Thursday: April 7:
v Man United
April 14: April 21: April 24: April 27: May 4:
v Tottenham
May 11: May 19:
“He’s had a similar pathway to me coming through the academy, so there are so many things I can take from him, the way he plays, conducts himself everyday and how hard he works.
“Trent’s an unbelievable footballer and I think he could play pretty much anywhere. I was right wing for Northern Ireland when I got my first goal for them on Tuesday so I’m pretty versatile. Of course, there’s a chance of it, but it’s all down to the manager really.”
Bradley revealed scoring his first Reds goal – and bagging two assists in the 4-1 win over Chelsea at the end of January – was the moment he felt he could make it after years of grafting.
“It’s difficult obviously v Sheff Utd v C Palace v Fulham v Everton v West Ham v Aston Villa v Wolves coming into one of the best teams in the world, trying to break through and prove you’re good enough to play every week,” he said.
“It was probably that game where I thought, ‘Right, I can do this.’ That was a big moment for me.
“My friends were over and I just remember saying to them back at my apartment, ‘What’s just happened?.’ It was crazy.
“I think everything just normalised around that, it just felt that was normal for me, I was in the right spot.”
Bradley says it helps having young players like Jarell Quansah in the dressing room and they have known each other since they were 12.
“It eases the transition into the first team,” he said. “You come into a dressing room full of men you have not spoken to much.
“Having a couple youngsters to bed you in is nice.
“Jarell has been with me since we were 12 when I first came to Liverpool. It’s quite special that we’re playing together now.”
TRENT ALEXANDERARNOLD has revealed how Liverpool’s players have kept their cool in the wake of the news of Jurgen Klopp’s pending departure.
The Anfield chief announced he was leaving the club at the end of the season in a video message to the Kop fans in January.
Since then, the Reds have won the Carabao Cup, while maintaining their bid for the Premier League title and success in Europe.
And AlexanderArnold, who was given his first-team debut by the German in 2016, has spoken of the shock that decision caused.
Speaking at a Football for Change charity event, the England defender said: “We turned up for training as normal and a special meeting was called. That doesn’t usually happen.
“Then he told us. It was a bolt out the blue.
“We found out just before everyone else. It was a big surprise.
“But he didn’t want it to distract from the season and it isn’t.
“We’re focused on the big games ahead. He is an incredible manager and mentor.”
Since Klopp said he was leaving, Liverpool have won five of their seven Premier League games, progressed to the last eight of the Europa League and lifted the League Cup.
Alexander-Arnold, who is out with a knee injury at the moment, added: “The boys did an amazing job in the Carabao Cup final.
“We’ve got our focus set on the Premier League and Europa League and I’m not far away from being back.”