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Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley has received some very mixed verdicts from Pep Guardiola and Troy Deeney in the last week.The Reds were comfortably beaten by Manchester City this past Sunday, slipping eight points behind title-chasing Arsenal.Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis. While it was an afternoon to forget for Liverpool, Conor Bradley was a rare bright spark for Arne Slot’s team.Pep Guardiola was complimentary of Bradley after the fixture, but Deeney’s view on his City display is very different.Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesWhat Pep Guardiola said about Conor BradleyThe right-back had a tough afternoon up against pacey winger Jeremy Doku.Doku had a great game and scored in the 63rd minute, yet Pep was still quick to praise the Belgian’s direct opponent on the day.He said: “Today Conor [Bradley] the right-back from Liverpool, I’m really, really impressed.“Pep Lijnders told me a thousand incredible things about that guy.
He can do everything, I know in the game against Madrid how good he was with Vinicius. Vinicius is, wow, right, and he handled it.”The Northern Irish full-back had a tricky afternoon against one of the more in-form Premier League wingers, but his stats, via SofaScore, were by no means terrible.Stats vs Man CityConor BradleyTackles2Interceptions3Clearances1Blocks1Recoveries5Ground Duels Won5/9Aerial Duels Won2/4Sofascoring rating6.5Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesTroy Deeney makes harsh Conor Bradley claimYet, despite being rated the highest Liverpool player on the pitch versus City, Deeney has been less than kind in his assessment of the defender.Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Premier League striker criticised Bradley for how he played against Man City, suggesting he sometimes looks like he’s never kicked a football before.He said: “Conor Bradley, for example, has been inconsistent, I would say this year, and that’s not all his own fault because Liverpool have been as well.“He comes up against Vinicius Junior and he’s excellent.
Best player on the pitch. The following week against Doku, who’s in a great moment, he looks like he’s never played football before.”Liverpool return to action against Nottingham Forest on November 22, and with Jeremie Frimpong on the road to recovery, it’s likely Slot will start Bradley in that fixture.
