Liverpool are facing a pivotal summer of squad rebuilding, with three key players – Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold – out of contract at the end of the season. While Van Dijk and Salah seem likely to stay, there is little anxiety at Anfield over the prospect of Alexander-Arnold leaving on a free transfer.
With Jurgen Klopp's departure postponed by a year, possibly to assess how the squad would adapt under Arne Slot, Liverpool are on course to claim another Premier League title. However, significant changes lie ahead, especially with reports suggesting that Alexander-Arnold has already reached an agreement with Real Madrid to join them once his contract expires on 30 June.
Unlike Van Dijk and Salah, whose exits would be major blows, Alexander-Arnold's departure would be mitigated by the emergence of Bradley. The 20-year-old academy player is not a like-for-like replacement but offers a different profile.
While Alexander-Arnold thrives in an attacking role with freedom to push forward, Bradley's strengths lie in defensive solidity, though he is not without attacking qualities. Bradley has surpassed 1,000 minutes across all competitions this season, closing in on last season's appearance tally.
Slot has been gradually integrating him, recognising his potential as a long-term solution. Crucially, the 21-year-old is not a replica of Alexander-Arnold but a more defensively assured full-back, which will necessitate a tactical shift for Liverpool.
The right flank, once an attacking powerhouse led by Alexander-Arnold and Salah, will become more balanced, gaining defensive security while also investing in the future, with Bradley five years younger than his predecessor.
Liverpool's tactical identity will inevitably evolve, but with Bradley's steady rise, the club seem well-prepared for the post-Alexander-Arnold era.