'I Feel Like It's A Dream': 19-Year-Old Liverpool Starlet Conor Bradley on Match-Winning Performance

A homegrown talent, rising up the ranks, and leading the first team to an inspired victory: This is the stuff that dreams are made of. And it is a dream one Conor Bradley turned into reality, as the 19-year-old led his side Liverpool to a 4-1 romp over Chelsea at Anfield last night.

Bradley was inspired, the Kop ­singing his name throughout, as Klopp’s team toyed with their ­Carabao Cup final opponents a month before their Wembley date.

Bradley was everywhere on the field, menacing Chelsea with penetrating runs along the flank, making incisive passes and setting up the first chance for Nunez, which was saved by Chelsea’s Petrovic.

Eventually, the youngster was undeniable and he slotted the ball into the back of the net in the 39th minute to score his first senior goal for the Reds, and set Dominik Szoboslai for his goal as well.

In a post-match interview, the young Northern Irishman shared his sheer joy and utter disbelief following his star performance.

“It’s a very proud moment, something I dreamed of for a long time,” he said to TNT Sports.

“I feel like it’s a dream. It’s unbelievable. I just couldn’t believe my goal went in. I didn’t know what to do. I went over to the corner and did a knee slide. It was brilliant, so it was. It was unfortunate the way Trent got injured. I just had to try to take my chance. I feel I’ve done pretty well. [Klopp leaving was a] big shock to us all. It’s giving us extra motivation.”

Bradley has been Klopp’s rising star in recent weeks. Following talisman right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold’ injury, Bradley has been put in charge of manning the wing and has shown great potential already, having grabbed an assist in their previous match against Bournemouth, and the two assists against Norwich in the FA Cup recently.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for the youngster as well after the game.

“I remember Pep (Lijnders) sat in my office and said, ‘I’d put both hands in fire for him!’ I loved him from the first day, I didn’t need a lot of convincing. The thing is, Conor showed up extremely good in pre-season, did extremely well at Bolton (on loan).

“Since he is back, it is a joy to watch him. It is all credit to the Academy because, how I said, Conor, Jarell, James, Bobby [Clark] and the others we don’t have to mention… it’s top. The Academy is doing an incredible job,” exclaimed a proud Klopp.

With their win against Chelsea, Liverpool now hold a slender 5-point lead over defending champions Manchester City, who still have a game in hand.