Liverpool: Conor Bradley ‘ready to step up’ at Anfield says NI boss Michael O’Neill

Should Frimpong come in, O’Neill believes that the dynamic of that competition will be different for Bradley than it was when vying for minutes with Alexander-Arnold.

“He provided that competition for Trent but he was trying at that point in time to dislodge a player that was very, very established at the club, a much-loved player and a player that had been very successful at the club,” he added.

“I think whatever happens now at Liverpool, that competition will be different because it will be a newer player coming into the club if they choose to do that, but Conor’s already proven that he’s ready to step up.

“I think you see that the manager there more than trusts him.”

That trust has recently been underlined by a new, long-term contract, and O’Neill feels that “stability” will be a benefit to a player he has handed the captain’s armband on two occasions.

“Conor’s not really driven by contracts. He’s driven by opportunity to play, and that’s quite refreshing in the modern game,” he said.

“I think that having that stability will help him, but he’s driven by minutes and he wants to make sure that he gets as many minutes as possible for Liverpool.

“He wants to play in the big games at Liverpool. He comes here [with Northern Ireland], he plays in the big games, he’s captained the team here, and I think you see that in his performances here.

“He’s got a challenge on his hands at a club like Liverpool, but it’s a challenge that I think he’s more than ready to meet, and he’s more than capable of establishing himself as a regular player there.”