Former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has revealed an argument between himself and Jurgen Klopp over Northern Ireland star Conor Bradley’s future turned ugly and left the Dutch coach ‘really upset.’
Lijnders was a huge admirer of the Tyrone native and was keen to promote him to the first team squad for the 2022/23 season. The German manager disagreed, however, opting to loan Bradley to League One club Bolton Wanderers.
Bradley enjoyed great success at Bolton, before returning to Anfield to establish himself as a regular in both the Liverpool and Northern Ireland team.
Jurgen Klopp with Pep Lijinders (extreme right) in the Liverpool dugout last season
“I remember that I really fought, proper fought, for Conor to be our No 2 behind Trent Alexander-Arnond,” said Lijnders in the new four-part documentary ‘Doubters To Believers Liverpool FC: Klopp’s Era’.
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“I was really trying to keep him in the club because I believed that he would already be ready at that time.
“The club makes the decision together with Jurgen get him out on loan, and it really, really upset me a lot. There was hard, hard words and it was probably one of the only confrontations I had with Jurgen. He won’t remember it anyway but I remember it.”
While at Bolton, Bradley scored seven goals in 53 appearances. He won the EFL Trophy at Wembley and was named the club’s Player of the Year.
With Alexander-Arnold’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, Bradley may have the opportunity to establish himself as the club’s first choice right-back next term.
The England international is the subject of transfer speculation, with Real Madrid favourites to sign the 26 year-old.
Bradley is currently injured and is a doubt for next month’s internationals, when Northern Ireland take on Switzerland and Sweden in friendlies.