Conor Bradley is ready to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool would be wise to once again trust their academy should, as expected, a vacancy at right-back open up this summer.

Photo: IMAGO | Anfield Index

If recent weeks can be considered an early insight into what life without Trent Alexander-Arnold will be like, then Liverpool fans are probably a little concerned.

Since the Reds’ vice-captain limped off against Paris Saint-Germain, they have suffered defeats in that game, at Wembley to Newcastle, and also against Fulham, all while winning just twice.

What’s more, they have struggled to regularly progress the ball into the final third, or get their talisman Mohamed Salah involved in rather predictable fashion given the loss of such a key creator.

However, perhaps the most important fact to remember here is that Liverpool haven’t just been shorn of Alexander-Arnold during that run, with fellow right-backs Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley also absent through injury.

And crucially, the return of the latter has prompted signs that Liverpool might just be able to cope in a world where they lose their No.66 to Real Madrid this summer.