Liverpool newcomers risks upsetting Mo Salah after comment on Reds teammate

Liverpool prospect Conor Bradley has claimed that one of his Anfield team-mates is "probably the best player in the world at the moment". But if club legend Mohamed Salah thought the youngster was talking about him then he will be in for some disappointment.

The Reds have one foot in the Carabao Cup final after coming from behind to beat Marco Silva's impressive Fulham side 2-1 in their semi-final first leg clash at Anfield on Wednesday evening.

Bradley marked the occassion with his first senior start at Anfield, deputising at right-back for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold. And the 20-year-old repaid the faith shown in him by Jurgen Klopp by producing a superb performance that grew in effectiveness as the game wore on.

He made the most tackles of any player on the pitch with six, contested 21 duels and created two chances, almost resulting in his first assist for the club.

Bradley, who enjoyed a successful loan spell with Bolton Wanderers last season, was handed his chance due to a number defensive absentees from the Liverpool defence. Full-backs Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas and Alexander-Arnold are all injured as is centre-back Joel Matip.

The crisis has forced Joe Gomez to deputise at left-back, creating an opportunity for Bradley which he has grasped with both hands.

The Northern Irishman is under no illusions in regards to the size of the shoes he is trying to fill at right-back and paid the ultimate compliment to Alexander-Arnold during an interview after the match against Fulham.

Bradley said: “Trent's obviously the best right-back in the world at the moment, probably the best player in the world at the moment with the way he’s playing. He’s a big miss but I just tried to do everything I could to fill in for him and thankfully we got the win.”

Alexander-Arnold has been in devastating form for the Reds this season, regularly venturing into midfield where his lethal deliveries have helped steer Klopp's side to the Premier League summit.

But while the Liverpudlian receives all the plaudits, Egyptian hero Salah can argue the case for being the club's most important player having already plundered 14 goals in the Premier League this season as well as laying on eight assists for his team-mates.

Liverpool are likely to be without both Alexander-Arnold and Salah for the remainder of January. While the former recovers from an injury, Salah is now at the Africa Cup of Nations with Eygpt.