Over the years, football fans have held different opinions on teams using youth players to win major trophies and while some stories might be unsuccessful, there’s a two-handful of successful examples that could be used in this argument. The Busby Babes of Man United and their 1998/99 treble winning team, the 1995 Champions League winning Ajax side, Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund side and perhaps my most favourite story, the 1991 UEFA Champions League winners, Red Star Belgrade from Serbia. A team that was fuelled with young players that rocked a ‘Galactico’ Marseille side that boasted the likes of Abedi Pele and French demigod, Jean-Pierre Papin.
So, as perilous as it might be, when the results go your way, there’s nothing sweeter than securing the future talents of your club, especially if you didn’t pay a single cent to secure that talent. Which brings us to the famous saying of “Academy is the cornerstone of any football club”.
In the wake of the 2023/24 season, 20-year old Irish-born right-back Conor Bradley was recalled from his successful loan spell with Bolton Wanderers to form part of Liverpool’s first team as Jurgen Klopp intensified efforts to find a solution in midfield and potentially moving Trent Alexander-Arnold into the midfield. However, Liverpool managed to bring in some great talents with the likes of Alexis MacAllister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominic Szoboszlai, which meant Alexander-Arnold would consistently feature in the right-back role while making inroads into advanced midfield positions.
That meant the Irish Scouser would have to be patient before making his impact known in the Liverpool team… Or did it? It took only 2 Premier League appearances for Bradley to rack up a goal and 3 assists for Jurgen Klopp’s red machine.
THE ANTICIPATED RETURN
Prior to Bradley’s loan spell with Bolton, the lanky right-back featured in an FA Cup encounter for Liverpool against Shrewsbury Town, playing 90 minutes in the 4-1 win and grabbed an assist. What was soon to follow was a successful loan stint, which would pave the way for his European football debut under the Anfield lights… Yes, fine… Thursday night European football.
But, having started off the season nursing a back injury, Bradley was given the nod by Jurgen Klopp as he was handed 8 minutes on the pitch before playing a full 90 minutes against Belgium’s current runaway champions elect, Union Saint-Gilloise.
Some successful outings in the Carabao and FA Cup and a slight injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold led to his first EPL appearance against Bournemouth that led to him picking up an assist in the 4-0 away win before making his Anfield debut in the EPL last night against Chelsea.
BRADLEY’S LIVERPOOL FUTURE
Having put up some good numbers against Chelsea which include a goal and two assists, many will wonder about the future of Conor Bradley in this Liverpool side, especially with Jurgen Klopp nearing the end of his Liverpool era. With Trent most likely to retain his right-back role, Conor Bradley will have the opportunity to learn from one of the world’s best footballers in that position.
It’s unlikely Bradley will seek a loan move in the next few years as he’s already established himself as one to watch in the Liverpool red.