Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre was coated in glorious sunshine on Friday as journalists arrived for Arne Slot’s weekly press conference, many still digesting the news that Trent Alexander-Arnold will be leaving the club next season.

If club staff, pulling into the parking lot at a similar time, didn't share the optimism and freedom that a balmy, late spring morning brings, that would be understandable.

The answer, for many, is obvious: Conor Bradley.



The Northern Irish defender has shown, at 21, he is more than capable of playing regular Premier League matches, even if there is a slight concern over whether he is ready to step up and play weekly for one of the world’s biggest clubs, and a much larger worry about his fitness levels and ability to stay injury-free.

Gary Neville and Roy Keane disagree on Liverpool's plans to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold	'I heard what Arne Slot said about Trent Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool fans should respect it'	Liverpool situation change after I heard what Arne Slot had to say about Trent Alexander-Arnold

Even Slot acknowledged that on Friday, with a thinly veiled message to Bradley that he needs to address his injury record: “Very talented player, Conor; unfortunately, hasn’t been fit through the season.

“To become a very good player you have to be available every week and that is the first step he has to take next season, but we have confidence in Conor as a very good full-back for Liverpool and that is already what he has shown.”

Bradley is clearly part of Slot’s plans next season - few doubted that - but could those comments be perceived as an early hint he will be first-choice right-back in the newly constructed 2025/26 side?

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That Bradley is central to that seems more likely after Friday’s remarks.

“The experience I have - and this club as well - is that if a very good player is leaving, the next very good player will step up, and that is probably what is going to happen now,” he said at the start of the media briefing, addressing Alexander-Arnold’s exit.

As for his departing right-back, how does Slot feel

I will see Trent in a bit – the boys had a few days off – and I will wait and see how he feels about his announcement about leaving the club

We are all disappointed but Trent is the first one who said he would prefer us as a team and a club not to be not too much distracted by this announcement.”

Liverpool, Slot and Alexander-Arnold are, understandably, keen to move on