Liverpool ace has made physical transformation as big change spotted during Arne Slot pre-season

Liverpool defender Conor Bradley has returned to training this pre-season having transformed physically , according to Reds legend Gary McAllister, who is with the team in the USA at the moment.

Bradley, who turned 21 earlier this month, made a breakthrough under Jurgen Klopp last season but is now aiming to take another step forward in his career with Arne Slot arriving. With Trent Alexander-Arnold still away on holiday, Bradley is the only senior Liverpool right-back available at the moment and he has looked sharp in training and the friendly against Real Betis .

"I think Conor Bradley last season was immense, but he’s still very very young," McAllister told Sky Sports . "His body shape has changed quite a bit; he’s grown into his body. So he’s exciting; I think he’s looking very sharp and I’m excited to see him."

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Liverpool has a number of players who are ready to go up a level this season, with Stefan Bajcetic another who has been doing a lot of work in the gym to prepare for the new campaign. The 19-year-old Spaniard spent most of last season on the sidelines but has now returned. Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon will be hoping for more senior minutes, too, though they could head out on loan.

"I think naturally you get bigger as you get older but I try to work on it as well," Bradley told Liverpool's official website this week. "In the off-season, I was in the gym just doing as much as I could while always recovering as well. I feel bigger, I feel stronger, I feel fitter.

"For me this pre-season, I just want to stay injury-free. I just want to make sure I'm as fit as I can [be] going into the season and make sure I've got no injuries, because obviously last year I think I only got two weeks of pre-season and obviously got the injury. My main focus is to just stay injury-free, get myself fit and get myself ready for the season."

Liverpool.com says: Bradley was excellent last season and having a proper rotation option for Alexander-Arnold will be really important for Slot considering how many games there are to come. Even though Bradley is a clear second-choice to the Reds' vice-captain, he will get plenty of action. He looks in great shape.