'Absolutely sensational' - Alan Shearer heaps praise on Liverpool defender

Alan Shearer has heaped praise on one particular Liverpool defender following victory over Chelsea last Wednesday, labelling his performance "absolutely sensational."

The Reds restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League in their 4-1 demolition of the Blues, a warning sign to Mauricio Pochettino's side ahead of next month's Carabao Cup final.

Liverpool have now won seven of their last eight games and, despite a raft of injuries to key players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai in recent weeks, Jurgen Klopp's side are firing on all cylinders.

While the victory over Chelsea was an impressive team display, there was one player who stood out from the crowd.

Conor Bradley registered his first goal for Liverpool against the Blues and supplied two assists, the second of which was a delightful cross that Szoboszlai headed home.

The 20-year-old's strike was similarly impressive, firing a low drive beyond Djordje Petrovic and into the bottom corner from outside the box, and the Northern Ireland international left the field with a clean sheet to his name - Liverpool conceding after he was substituted.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, record Premier League goalscorer Shearer hailed Bradley's display, saying: "Wow, we were there Gary [Lineker] when he made his debut when he came on for the last 15 minutes at Arsenal.

"And you thought then, I mean, the way the game was going and the belief that Klopp had to put him on.

"But not only that, he was brilliant in that game, but last night [against Chelsea], he looked absolutely sensational, didn’t he? Defensively, attacking-wise. He took his goal incredibly well despite nearly falling over, and the cross. What a man-of-the-match performance that was."

Fellow pundit and podcast contributor Micah Richards was also impressed with Bradley, the former Manchester City right-back suggesting that the youngster will save Liverpool significant money in the transfer market.

"I work with Jamie Carragher and he has said for years now that Liverpool need to buy a right-back to take the work load off Trent," said Richards.

"Now they have Conor Bradley who has come through, it is just amazing. He is worth £20m, £30m already. Just by his performances."

Bradley, who was Bolton Wanderers' Player of the Season during his loan spell last campaign, has registered a goal and five assists in his last four matches, a truly astonishing tally for a player with such limited experience.

With some big games on the horizon for the Reds, Klopp has a genuine dilemma over whether to start Bradley or the returning Alexander-Arnold at right-back.