I’ll be honest, I really like what Ronald Araújo is doing at right-back for Liverpool.
He has given Andoni Iraola something the team desperately needed: defensive security.
But there is an interesting reminder coming from Liverpool’s long-term plans.
According to Paul Gorst, the belief at Liverpool is that Conor Bradley will eventually be given the time and space to make the right-back position his own once he is back fit. His aggression and athleticism are viewed as the ideal combination for the position.
And suddenly, I’m even more excited about seeing Bradley return.
Because while Araújo has done an excellent job filling the position, I don’t think Liverpool have necessarily found their permanent answer yet.
They might already have him.
Bradley has unfinished business at Liverpool
It’s easy to forget just how highly Conor Bradley has been regarded.
He isn’t simply another young player coming through the academy.
Liverpool have seen enough from him to believe that he can eventually take over one of the most important positions in the team.
And I can understand why.
Bradley brings something slightly different.
He’s aggressive.
He’s quick.
He’s energetic.
And he isn’t frightened of getting stuck into opponents.
That athleticism could be particularly important in Iraola’s system, where Liverpool want to play with intensity and press aggressively.
The interesting part is that Liverpool apparently see those qualities as the perfect blend for their long-term right-back.
Gorst reports that Bradley remains some way from returning, but that the long-term view is still for him to be given the opportunity to make the position his own.
That tells me Liverpool haven’t forgotten about him just because Araújo has started so well.
Araújo has bought Liverpool some time
And this is where I think Liverpool are actually in a pretty good position.
If Araújo had struggled at right-back, everyone would be talking about how badly the club needs Bradley back.
Instead, the opposite has happened.
Araújo has been one of the real positives of Iraola’s first few months.
He has looked strong defensively, comfortable physically and increasingly confident in the position.
Gorst has described his performances at right-back as a key factor behind Liverpool’s unbeaten start, while also pointing out how much instability the club had suffered in that position previously.
So Liverpool don’t have to rush Bradley.
And that is probably the best thing for him.
Bradley needs to be allowed to recover properly
This is the part I’m most conscious of.
Bradley suffered a serious knee injury against Arsenal in January and underwent surgery.
When Iraola was asked about him in September, the manager said Bradley was still training alone, had only recently started touching the ball and was not close to training with the team.
Iraola also made it clear that Bradley’s injury was a long-term one and that Giovanni Leoni was further ahead in his recovery.
So nobody should be expecting Bradley back next week and immediately starting Premier League games.
Let him take his time.
Liverpool have options now.
That’s the difference.
Araújo can play there.
Gomez can cover.
Even other players have been used there when Liverpool have been desperate.
The club no longer needs to throw Bradley straight back into the deep end.
And that could be brilliant for Bradley
Imagine returning from a serious knee injury and knowing that the club still believes you can make the position your own.
That has to give Bradley confidence.
He doesn’t have to come back and prove everything in two matches.
He can build his fitness.
Get some minutes.
Get his sharpness back.
Get comfortable again.
Then gradually start competing for that right-back position.
And if he gets back to his best, I genuinely think we could have a very interesting situation on our hands.
Because Araújo is not going to make it easy for him.
That’s exactly what you want.
Competition could make Liverpool better
This is what I like about Liverpool’s situation.
For years, right-back was basically synonymous with Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Replacing Trent was always going to be incredibly difficult because there simply aren’t many players in world football who can reproduce his passing range and creativity.
Liverpool have had to accept that they probably need to find a different solution.
Araújo offers one.
Bradley could offer another.
And they are completely different players.
Araújo gives you strength, experience and defensive security.
Bradley gives you aggression, athleticism and energy.
I don’t think Liverpool need to decide immediately which one is better.
Let them compete.
That is how you build a squad.
I’m really looking forward to seeing Bradley again
There is something quite exciting about having a player waiting in the background who Liverpool clearly still believe can become the long-term answer.
Especially after everything Bradley has already been through.
He has had injuries.
He has had to fight for opportunities.
He has shown Liverpool supporters that he isn’t scared of the big occasions.
And now he has a serious opportunity waiting for him.
The good thing is that Liverpool don’t need to rush it.
Araújo is giving Iraola a solution right now.
Bradley can take the time he needs to get properly fit.
Then, when he’s ready, let’s see what he’s got.
Maybe Araújo remains the first choice.
Maybe Bradley eventually takes the shirt.
Maybe they both become incredibly important to Iraola in different ways.
I certainly wouldn’t complain about having those options.
But the long-term plan is fascinating.
Liverpool apparently still believe Conor Bradley can make right-back his own.
And after watching how much aggression and athleticism he can bring to the team, I really hope they are right.
Because Araújo may be solving Liverpool’s right-back problem for the present.
But Conor Bradley could still be the answer for the future.
And I’m really looking forward to finding out.
By Jamie (The Kopite View)
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