'Absolutely magnificent' Conor Bradley has given Jurgen Klopp a ‘headache’, says Robbie Fowler

Robbie Fowler described Conor Bradley as “absolutely magnificent” after the right-back starred in a 4-1 win for Liverpool over Chelsea.

The Northern Ireland full-back earned a chance under Jurgen Klopp after an injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold forced the manager to shuffle his pack, but he has been unexpectedly rewarded by some outstanding performances by the 20-year-old.

Bradley scored one and set up two more on Wednesday night as Liverpool maintained their lead at the top of the table on the same night Manchester City defeated Burnley.

He was awarded player of the match, and speaking on TNT Sports after the match, former Liverpool striker Fowler was full of praise.

He said: “He was absolutely magnificent. I think every Liverpool player was very good tonight, but I think with him that was a special performance.

“Liverpool have now got great players in different positions, but the manager will have a headache now because I’m not sure you can leave him out of the side.

"Because when he has played he’s performed brilliant, going forward, defending magnificently but defensively tonight I think he had a lot of players in his pocket.

“Everyone who went over to his side, he defended unbelievable.”

Rio Ferdinand expects Alexander-Arnold to take his place back when he is fit, but pointed out that in a title run-in Klopp now has a bonus at his disposal, with Bradley’s performances allowing other players to get a rest where needed.

“He’ll understand when Trent’s fit, Trent will play, I have no doubt about that,” Ferdinand began. “But the manager’s got another card in his pocket now that he can give people rests, dip people in and out, and he can trust these young players.

“These young players have helped them get to this position and when they get everyone fit again those guys are going to play but these guys are going to push them.

"In squads that are challenging for multiple trophies, you need people who are in behind pushing the first 11, knowing that if I don’t perform, there’s people who can come in and play, that’s what Jurgen’s got."

Ferdinand also remarked on the evolution of Klopp's side since he overhauled the midfield with four new signings in the summer.

He noted: “If you think about the transition between the midfield last season and what they’ve got now, normally that takes six months to this season.

"They’re top of the league, they’re flying, defensively they’re fantastic, scoring goals at will now, the balance of this team looks fantastic. He wouldn’t have thought he would have this team in a better place.”

Liverpool travel to London for their next game, away to fellow title challengers Arsenal on Sunday.

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