Trent Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool last summer to join Real Madrid

Former Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson admits he would “love” to see Trent Alexander-Arnold make a sensational return to Anfield.

But the ex-defender also backed Conor Bradley to prove himself as the long-term solution on the right side of the back four once he recovers from a season-ending injury, suffered in January.

Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid in June when the La Liga side paid around £10m to bring him to Spain a month early so he could feature in the Club World Cup during the summer, rather than signing him as a free agent the following month.

Alexander-Arnold has so far underwhelmed in the Spanish capital and Johnson says a return for the West Derby-born England international would be the ideal fit.

However, Johnson, who made 200 appearances for the Reds across a five-year career on Merseyside, thinks Northern Ireland international Bradley is realistically the player to take on the mantle at right-back.

“Who would be my choice to be Liverpool’s starting right-back next season? Of course you’d love to see Trent back, of course you would,” Johnson said. “But in terms of the future of Liverpool, I think as long as he comes back fit, Conor Bradley for me, as long as he can recover from that injury.

“Obviously it’s a nasty one, as long as he can get back to fitness and get gains under his belt, match fitness, confidence, and sort of kick on from his previous best, then I think you’ve got a fantastic right-back there.

“Bradley looks more athletic, stronger, with more desire to defend, but keen to get forward in attacks as well. So I think, like you said, all round he would be the man for me.

“But then again, against certain teams that are going to sit back and need to be broken down, then Jeremie Frimpong could be the answer for certain home games and things like that, you know.”

Speaking to BOYLE Sports who offer the latest football odds, Johnson also gave his take on the future of Andy Robertson, who could leave as a free agent at the end of the season.

Johnson added: “Naturally, if Andy Robertson were to leave to go to a promoted club, it’s technically a step back, but there aren’t many steps forward from Liverpool. However, in terms of a newly promoted side that has a plan, you could understand why they’d want him for sure.

“Thinking about his experience, trophies, age, helping the youngsters around him, and giving the dressing room a boost, having a Champions League winner in the dressing room, especially when they might be in the Premier League for the first time in God knows how long. You can see how that would absolutely give them a lift.

“Whether he has the desire for that kind of challenge is something we’d have to ask him. He might want to go and play in the sun somewhere for the last few years instead, but I’d say he can answer that more accurately at the weekend. But yes, you can see why a team like Coventry or Wrexham would want him.”