says ’s magnificent breakthrough has given a selection ‘dilemma’ at Liverpool, with Trent Alexander-Arnold likely to be benched again at .
Alexander-Arnold was sidelined with a torn knee ligament last month and Bradley came in for the injured England international at right-back, making his full Premier League debut in Liverpool’s 4-0 victory over Bournemouth.
Bradley did not look out of place at Dean Court, assisting Diogo Jota’s second goal of the match, and the 20-year-old has since gone from strength to strength, .
The young Northern Irishman was instrumental in the 4-1 win, netting the hosts’ second and assisting Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai, with Alexander-Arnold having to settle for a place amongst the substitutes at Anfield.
Previewing Liverpool’s trip to Arsenal on Sky Sports, Carragher was full of praise for Bradley and predicted the Northern Ireland international would keep hold of his place in Klopp’s XI at the Emirates.
‘He has saved Liverpool a lot of money because I think a lot of people, myself included, have been saying for a long time now that with at right-back, because he’s so good, it’s very difficult to bring someone in as back-up as they know they’re not going to play more often than not,’ the ex-Liverpool and England defender said.
‘And you’ve still got to pay good money for someone like that so if you can bring someone through it saves you money.
‘But actually the performances of Conor Bradley now, I think that gives Jurgen Klopp a real dilemma for what he does this weekend.
‘I actually think he will stick with Conor Bradley just for the fact that he’s in form, he’s playing, he’s got rhythm which is a phrase Jurgen Klopp uses quite a lot.
‘Liverpool have needed a back-up for Trent for a long time and they’ve certain got that right now and it might be a little bit more than that.
‘The other thing we always talk about with Trent is whether he will eventually go into midfield. If Conor Bradley keeps playing at the level he’s at you’ve then got to start thinking about how to get both players in the team.
Carragher added: ‘You can’t leave a player of the quality of Trent Alexander-Arnold out. He’s one of the best players in the Premier League so that then goes back to: does he move into midfield going forward?
‘Conor Bradley is a young player, he’s had a brilliant start. The rest of his career won’t go like this, there’s lots of ups and downs as a footballer, whether that’s injury, loss of form, so he’s on a great ride at the moment and he should enjoy it.
‘Keep that momentum going. That’s why I think he should play at the weekend.’
According to Carragher, finding Alexander-Arnold’s best position will be one of many big decisions for whoever replaces Klopp in the hot seat at Liverpool next season.
‘I think the team played that well against Chelsea that I think you play the same team,’ the 2004/05 Champions League winner added.
‘You look at the midfield and talk about putting Trent into midfield. That could be a bigger picture maybe for the new manager next season. That’s not going to be Jurgen Klopp’s problem.
‘I think the midfield of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones was outstanding as well, Conor Bradley was, and I don’t think there was anyone in the team who didn’t play well.
‘I think it’s very difficult to change the team on the back of a performance so good but if you’re talking about Jurgen Klopp making a change and bringing in a player of the quality of Trent, it shows how well Liverpool are doing right now.
‘Trent will get back in the team. He’s been one of the best players this season, one of the best players in the Premier League, but I just think when a lad is playing that well and his confidence is so high, it will be very difficult to leave him out.’
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