Not Salah, Coach Arne Slot lavishly praises the 'successor of Trent Arnold'

Liverpool snapped a run of four straight defeats by securing a solid 2-0 victory against Aston Villa at Anfield. While Salah and Gravenberch were the scorers, Coach Arne Slot singled out Conor Bradley for particular commendation.

Bradley is regarded as the “heir” to Trent Alexander-Arnold following the English star’s move to Real Madrid. Although he was mainly a backup option over the past two seasons, the 21-year-old has gradually proven himself with consistent performances. Against Aston Villa, he not only defended firmly but also linked up well with Salah on the right flank, creating several dangerous attacking opportunities.

Speaking after the match, Coach Slot said: “Conor played an outstanding game, just like many of his teammates. The whole team showed great fighting spirit, working hard, pressing constantly to protect the win. For Conor, the most important thing now is to maintain his fitness, as he is not yet used to playing full 90 minutes regularly. But today, he was truly very good.”

With new signing Jeremie Frimpong still injured, Bradley is likely to continue being trusted in the right-back position. His energetic display against Villa is seen as a key turning point that gives him an advantage in the battle for a starting spot.

Additionally, the match marked a historic milestone for Mohamed Salah as he scored his 250th goal for Liverpool, becoming the third player in the club’s history to reach this feat. Salah’s goal came after a mistake by goalkeeper Emi Martinez, but Slot emphasized the overall spirit of the Egyptian forward: “Beyond the goal, I appreciate how Salah holds the ball, contributes defensively, and sets the team’s rhythm. That’s the best version of him.”

The 2-0 victory not only helped Liverpool regain confidence after a difficult period but also sparked new hope in their title defense campaign. With young talents like Conor Bradley steadily establishing themselves, Coach Arne Slot can trust in a genuine revival journey at Anfield.