Conor Bradley at heart of Jürgen Klopp’s last young Liverpool band

IF Roberto De Zerbi wants advice on how to impress the Anfield crowd on Sunday (2pm) he should seek Conor Bradley’s counsel. The full-back stepped in for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold in late January and has not looked back since his first Premier League home game against Chelsea.

Bradley scored once and assisted two in a 4-1 thrashing as he announced himself to Liverpool fans. De Zerbi brings his Brighton side to Anfield with his name under consideration to replace the departing Jürgen Klopp. Another fine showing would make a timely statement, although the home fans will be hoping for a valiant defeat for the Italian.

Bradley is the type of player who would thrive under De Zerbi’s all-action style. A year ago, the 20-year-old was scoring the winner against Exeter in League One while on loan at Bolton but has quickly become an invaluable cog for Liverpool, flying up and down the right flank. He already has a Carabao Cup-winner’s medal and is aiming to follow it up with the Premier League and Europa League success.

“It’s difficult coming into one of the best teams in the world and trying to break through and prove that you’re good enough to play every week,” says Bradley. “It was probably that game [against Chelsea] where I thought: ‘Right, I can do this.’ That was a big moment for me.”

With Xabi Alonso out of the picture, Rúben Amorim and De Zerbi are seemingly vying for the soon-to-be-vacant hot seat. Few would be able to turn down the prospect of replacing Klopp, even if succeeding a legend can be a poisoned chalice.

Bradley is at the heart of a new young group of players who have stepped up. “It eases the transition into the first team,” he says. “You come into a dressing room full of men you have not spoken to