Conor Bradley is seizing his moment & the future looks bright

There have been calls for a long-term deputy and possible replacement to Trent Alexander-Arnold at the right-back position for years. It looks like Liverpool might have finally found the perfect player.

The young Northern Irishman, Conor Bradley, has stepped in for the injured Alexander-Arnold and the squad has not missed a beat.

While he obviously does not have TAA's passing range, he is still very comfortable getting forward and making things happen. Time and again Bradley was making himself available far upfield against Bournemouth.

The key for me, is more than just being an option, when he did receive the ball he showed no hesitation on it. His service was very good and he showed confidence in himself and trust in his teammates to be where they needed to be.

At 20, Bradley plays with a maturity that not every young defender has. A 53 appearance loan spell at Bolton last season in League One has clearly paid off.

That is a brutal and unforgiving league to play in if you are a teenager. Not only did Bradley play, he thrived with 7 goals and 6 assists from his right-back spot.

That is a competition that will make you grow up fast and show you how tough you are. Based on his 6 appearances for Liverpool this season, Jurgen Klopp has a player on his hands. He brings a versatility to the position that you don't see often.

The fact that the Reds now have two diverse players like that at the right-back slot is a magnificent advantage.

Going forward he clearly has talent but he does not neglect his defensive duties either. He is always in the right spot and his efforts to track back when he does venture forward is something the younger Trent could have used if we're being honest.

Now, this is not to say that he is suddenly a world class fullback and has secured a starting role going forward.

He can still improve every aspect of his game, but we have seen that his foundation is higher than most players his age. He is starting 10 paces down the road from his competitors. He missed a lot of this season with a tough back injury, so that will be something to monitor going forward.

However, the moment has not proven to big for the youngster and that is a big first hurdle to clear. The next is growing physically and mentally to handle the rigors of top flight football.

If the club can nurture him and guide him along the right path, Liverpool could have a starlet on their hands sooner than later.