There is so much young talent to get excited about in the Liverpool team next season.
The Reds are set for a bit of a reset under Arne Slot. After so many years of Jurgen Klopp, it’s hard to know what to expect.
However, what Klopp’s final season at Anfield did show was that Liverpool have some superstars in waiting coming up from the academy.
You never want to get ahead of yourself where young players are concerned. It can be unwise to place too much burden on their shoulders. But Klopp himself claimed that he has as many as six prospects who can go to the next level under Slot.
And after what one of those 20-year-old’s did for his country on Tuesday night, he looks absolutely primed to do just that.
Conor Bradley at the double for Northern Ireland
In any other season, Conor Bradley’s emergence as League One right-back to unopposed starter for Liverpool would have been the story of the academy’s year.
That that wasn’t necessarily the case is down to the surprise nature of Jarell Quansah’s breakthrough and his own journey to getting an England national team call-up.
But while Quansah hasn’t yet been able to break into the Three Lions’ team proper, Bradley is already an established international star with Northern Ireland. Not 21 until July, the right-back is growing a reputation as his country’s next great hope.
That feeling is unlikely to have died down after Bradley bagged himself a double during Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Andorra.
READ MORE: Pep Lijnders’ chances of signing Conor Bradley on-loan for RB Salzburg
In fact, if the national media’s reaction is anything to go by, then the hysteria may well have just been pumped up another notch or two.
The Belfast Telegraph could be forgiven for getting a little carried away, but they really do lavish praise on Bradley. ‘What a talent’ they write, claiming that Northern Ireland and indeed Liverpool have something special on their hands.
Bradley is said to have ‘showed his class’ from right wing-back while displaying a ‘goalscoring instinct’ that he was reportedly renowned for as a kid.
The manner in which the youngster was able to score twice is labelled as ‘fantastic’ while Bradley is lauded for showing a ‘sense of adventure’ while on the attack.
Conor Bradley stakes early claim for Liverpool spot
As Slot takes charge at Liverpool, one of the biggest questions he has to answer is over who starts at right-back.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold set to play in midfield for England at Euro 2024, the new head coach might just have had his decision made a little earlier.
Yes, it was only Andorra, but there’s no denying that Bradley is a supreme talent.
It isn’t every day a 20-year-old right-back scores twice on the international stage and that shouldn’t simply be dismissed because of the opposition.
With Alexander-Arnold away until later in pre-season, Bradley will have the chance to impress Slot at the AXA Training Centre from day one.
If he can tap into this kind of form on the training pitch, he’ll be nailing down his place in the team in no time at all.