Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp clears up comments on 'best player' Conor Bradley

Trent Alexander-Arnold has recently returned to the Liverpool first team following a knee ligament injury, scoring a stunning free kick in the weekend’s Premier League win against Fulham at Craven Cottage. 

It was the 25-year-old’s 100th goal contribution for Liverpool, an incredible landmark for any player but even more so for a right back.

But Trent is no ordinary defender, marauding forward to provide crosses, goals and assists throughout his Anfield career and establishing himself as one of the most effective in the world in his position.

With a contract expiring in 2025, the new Liverpool higher-ups will need to prioritise negotiations fast to make sure the homegrown star is not lost for nothing next summer to Real Madrid or any other interested parties.

Conor Bradley replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent’s time out of the team necessitated Jurgen Klopp to use Northern Irish defender Conor Bradley in his place.

The 20-year-old made an electric start to his Liverpool career, giving six assists and scoring his first Reds goal across 22 appearances in all competitions this season.

He too has recently been out of the team, suffering an ankle injury in the home defeat to Crystal Palace which will sideline him until May.

Bradley’s rise was so quick that fans were quickly made to forget that they were without one of their best players and a cornerstone of Premier League and Champions League title wins.

In an attempt to praise Alexander-Arnold following the weekend victory, Klopp may have inadvertently slighted Bradley, who had performed so well in the senior player’s absence.

Bradley is 'incredibly good, a revelation'

"Conor Bradley played a few games of football where we all thought: ‘Oh, wow! What was that?!’ But the truth is that nobody is like Trent, that's the way it is,” Klopp said after the game.

However he has now moved to clarify his remarks, acknowledging Bradley as one of his best players during the opening part of 2024, and added that he had already spoken to the 15-cap international about his comments.

"I hope it was not misunderstood because in the last game, I said: 'Conor Bradley played a few games, but Trent is Trent’,” Klopp said in his pre-match comments ahead of the Merseyside Derby.

"I have to say, Conor is Conor. Conor was for a while our best player. He came on and was a revelation. Incredibly good. He is really exceptional as well so it is really nice to have these kind of players around.

"Somewhere I saw the headline. I thought: 'Maybe I said that, but it's not what I wanted to say'. I told Conor already which is much more important.

"There is nothing bad to say about Trent and his development. He is one of the people who will be talked about in 20 or 30 years."