23 hours ago
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Liverpool legend turned pundit Jamie Carragher has pulled no punches in his recent take on Conor Bradley’s performances. The former center back has spoken out about the club’s recent dip in form and has pointed to the lack of experience in defense as an area that is causing some issues.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold moving away to Madrid, Bradley has had some big shoes to fill in the right back spot, something that Carragher believes he hasn’t quite taken to yet, stating that he looks “like an academy graduate trying to cope in men's football”.
The pundit previously said Bradley could not replace Alexander-Arnold on Sky Sports, he added: “The reason we talk about him [Alexander-Arnold] so much, I think he’s the most talked-about full-back we’ve probably ever seen in the Premier League, is because he’s unique.
“He’s different. And you’ve just mentioned about him defensively, now most top full-backs don’t get it thrown at them that they’re not very good defensively.”
“Conor Bradley shouldn’t look at Trent and think, ‘I want to be like him.’ He’s got to be like Andy Robertson was when he was in his prime, a proper full-back.”
With back-to-back losses, there’s no doubt Liverpool’s defense has been struggling, conceding seven goals in six league games.
Writing in The Telegraph, Carragher spoke of their shaky back four: “Liverpool’s biggest problem right now is not their back four, although Ibrahima Konaté’s inconsistency is well-documented and the preferred full-backs Milos Kerkez and Conor Bradley are inexperienced.
“Bradley still looks like an academy graduate trying to cope with the demands of playing senior football three times a week.”
That’s not to say Carragher doesn’t see potential. He’s made it clear Bradley “deserves to be given a go as our right-back,” particularly in the wake of Alexander-Arnold, but Bradley, Carragher says, is still learning.
But it’s not just the back line Carragher has concerns about, with the pundit also asking questions about their new record-breaking three signings, Wirtz, Ekitke, and Isak.
Writing on Wirtz added: “It sounds odd to say it, but Wirtz was signed to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, a No 10 to provide the passing range and creativity of a unique full-back. Florian Wirtz is yet to fill the void left by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“He [Slot] must decide whether to regroup and temporarily revert to the strategy of last season, accommodating Wirtz in a different role, or leaving him out entirely until he is up to speed with English football.
“Or he might persist with his vision, believing more short-term pain might be necessary until it clicks.
“The latter would be dangerous because even with all the credit in the bank from his title win, there is immense pressure to keep winning, especially when you have spent a combined £230m on two players who are supposed to be ready.”
Either way, the stakes are high for today's late kick-off away at Stamford Bridge against Enzo Maresca’s inconsistent Chelsea side.
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