{"id":258288,"date":"2025-07-12T06:59:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-12T06:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/258288\/"},"modified":"2025-07-12T06:59:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-12T06:59:19","slug":"daily-red-liverpools-preseason-what-comes-next-for-bradley-and-doak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/258288\/","title":{"rendered":"Daily Red: Liverpool\u2019s Preseason: What Comes Next for Bradley and Doak"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As Liverpool prepare to kick off their preseason with a tribute-filled friendly at Preston, the spotlight turns sharply to players with something to prove. On the Daily Red podcast, host Dave Hendrick laid out a candid assessment of the squad, with sharp focus on Connor Bradley and Ben Doak, two young talents who stand at a potential crossroads in their Liverpool careers.<\/p>\n

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Points To Prove: The #DailyRed<\/a> Podcast<\/p>\n

\ufe0f @HendrickD82<\/a> looks at the #LFC<\/a> related news<\/p>\n

Out now! pic.twitter.com\/HdP3pVSh16<\/a><\/p>\n

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Connor Bradley\u2019s Fight for Relevance<\/p>\n

Bradley has long been considered a future fixture at right-back, but as Hendrick noted, the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong may complicate that trajectory. \u201cBradley is seen by some as the new right back,\u201d Hendrick said, but he stressed that \u201cwe\u2019ve signed Jeremy Frimong who\u2019s a better footballer at this point.\u201d While acknowledging Bradley\u2019s strengths, Hendrick made it clear that neither Frimpong nor Bradley have shown sufficient defensive prowess, stating, \u201cNeither of them are particularly good defensively.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Still, the Northern Irishman has time on his side. \u201cWith experience and with development and with coaching, he will improve defensively,\u201d Hendrick continued. He praised Bradley\u2019s work in build-up play, adding, \u201cWe\u2019ve already seen how impressive he is in that middle third.\u201d The key issue, however, is consistency and availability. \u201cFor Connor, the biggest thing is he needs to stay fit,\u201d Hendrick warned, reinforcing that potential will remain unfulfilled unless Bradley manages a run of games without injury.<\/p>\n

Ben Doak\u2019s Uncertain Path<\/p>\n

If Bradley\u2019s issue is fitness and competition, Ben Doak\u2019s is clarity of purpose. A year ago, he turned down the opportunity to stay as Mohamed Salah\u2019s backup, instead opting for more regular game time out on loan. But for the second consecutive season, Doak\u2019s campaign ended prematurely with surgery.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast summer he was offered the opportunity to stay and basically be the backup to Mo and he didn\u2019t want to do that,\u201d Hendrick revealed. \u201cHe went out on loan and for the second season in a row his season ended with surgery.\u201d Now, with another preseason upon him, questions remain about Doak\u2019s ambitions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what he wants at the moment,\u201d Hendrick admitted. \u201cDoes he want to go and play every single week? Is he happy to stay and fight for a place at Liverpool?\u201d The tone suggested Liverpool may be prepared to part ways if the right offer arrives. \u201cMy guess is if a good bid comes in, we\u2019ll accept it and move on,\u201d Hendrick concluded, casting doubt on whether Doak fits into Arne Slot\u2019s long-term plans.<\/p>\n

Preseason Offers a Platform<\/p>\n

Liverpool\u2019s preseason, which includes six games in four weeks, offers a real platform for young players to prove their worth. Yet Hendrick was clear: not all of them will make the cut. Speaking of Harvey Elliott and Wataru Endo, Hendrick said bluntly, \u201cI don\u2019t think it matters what [Elliott] does,\u201d and added, \u201cI don\u2019t know that Endo has anything to prove,\u201d reinforcing the sense that certain futures are already written, regardless of July performances.<\/p>\n

For Bradley and Doak, however, the script is still being drafted. Both are young, both are talented, and both are now under the gaze of a new Liverpool regime fresh off a Premier League title. As Hendrick put it, there are \u201ceight Liverpool players with a point to prove this preseason,\u201d but it is Bradley and Doak who arguably carry the most intrigue.<\/p>\n

Whether either takes the opportunity could shape Liverpool\u2019s squad depth heading into another demanding season. And for fans, the Daily Red podcast remains essential listening for unvarnished insights like Hendrick\u2019s \u2014 especially when young talents like Connor Bradley and Ben Doak are on the line.<\/p>\n

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