Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net
Liverpool fans gained further insight into what the future may look like under Arne Slot after their 2-1 win against Southampton.
Now among the more experienced Anfield players despite being just 21, Harvey Elliott has taken on a senior role at Liverpool.
That has involved helping many Liverpool youngsters progress from the academy into the first team, with Slot having turned to such players against the Saints.
Elliott impressed on his first start under Slot at St Mary’s, where the likes of fellow youngsters Trey Nyoni, Tyler Morton and Jarell Quansah also started.
Aged just 16, Rio Ngumoha was an unused substitute, but fellow youngsters Jayden Danns and James McConnell did both get minutes from the bench.
Photo by Nikki Dyer – LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images2024 Liverpool FC
Another academy graduate in Caoimhin Kelleher started in goal, with yet another in Conor Bradley certain to have started if not for a hamstring injury.
His efforts in recent times have managed to catch the eye of Irish rugby legend Rory Best, who as one of the most capped players of all time certainly knows what it takes to reach the top.
“An old head on young shoulders, whenever you watch him live, especially that game when he was captain for the first time, you see clearly the standards that he holds himself to, but actually that he expects everyone around him to live up to their standards,” Best said on the Northern Ireland YouTube channel.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
“It’s not getting to the standards that Mo Salah sets for example at Liverpool, but it’s actually understanding the level of people you’re playing with, and that they’re holding themselves to the best account that they can.
READ MORE: Northern Ireland media rate Liverpool defender Conor Bradley’s display as he wears the captain’s armband vs Bulgaria
“And you just saw him constantly encouraging people.
If somebody didn’t make a run he felt the should have, he was saying that to them.
“And just always work and you try to eek another percent or two out, which is clearly the way it will be in the top of the Premier League.
“When you play in the Liverpool team, if you’re not somebody like that, you’re just not going to get picked, it’s as simple as that.
“So you’ve got to have that hard work that clearly was instilled in him when he was young to get to where he is.
He still just looks like to me like he has this appetite to be better.
He wants Northern Ireland to be better.
“He’s not coming here for a break away from the pressure of the Premier League, he’s coming here to qualify for things, to win games with Northern Ireland.
“And I think that you really see the sign of a player that is so hungry to be successful at everything he does whenever they come here and they’re just always pushing people on.”
Bradley isn’t back in Liverpool training, having suffered the hamstring problem at the end of his phenomenal display against Real Madrid last month.
Having already endeared himself to the Anfield faithful before the Champions League clash, the 21-year-old furthered his status on Merseyside with a stunning performance up against Kylian Mbappe.
Slot was forced to start first choice right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold against Southampton in Bradley’s absence, with the England international withdrawn at half-time in order to remain fresh for Sunday’s trip to Tottenham.
READ MORE: Liverpool should halt contract talks with Trent Alexander-Arnold after Real Madrid revelation
There is, of course, fantastic incentive for Bradley to pick up where he left off upon his return, with Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool contract expiring this summer.
Slot has a ready-made replacement at right-back, with the Northern Ireland international adept at both ends of the pitch.
And despite his age, Bradley has already captained his country, while he has even chipped in with a handful of goals thanks to his more attacking role at international level.
View this post on Instagram
View Instagram Post
Related Posts
For more news relating to Spurs, visit our sister site Spurs Latest Live.
![[Valid RSS]](../valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")