Bradley Shines as Liverpool Dominate Real Madrid

Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold Returns, But Bradley Captivates Anfield

Trent Alexander-Arnold's homecoming was marked by tension rather than celebration as Liverpool comfortably beat Real Madrid in their Champions League encounter. Alexander-Arnold, making his first appearance since mid-September following an injury layoff, was met with a muted reception from the Anfield crowd. However, the night truly belonged to the impressive debut of Conor Bradley, who played as a right-back against Vinicius Jr.

The 22-year-old Northern Irish international consistently drew the Anfield support with his authoritative display. He repeatedly silenced the home crowd with his tackling success and accurate passing, often being cheered for every successful action. His overall performance was lauded by Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, who declared Bradley "outstanding" in containing one of Real's star forwards.

Bradley's brilliance seemed almost designed to highlight Alexander-Arnold's fall from favour at the club, particularly since Bradley was widely regarded as the successor to the England full-back's role before he moved to Real Madrid. Liverpool fans, reminded of Alexander-Arnold's departure, added to his discomfort during the match. The hostility was evident from pre-match preparations, where his Anfield mural was daubed with the words "Adios El Rata," through to his on-field cameo, which was largely uneventful and booed whenever he touched the ball.

Despite a relatively quiet game, Alexander-Arnold provided a moment of concern in added time, controversially introduced to attempt to salvage a draw for Real Madrid, only for substitute Alex Mac Allister to head in the winning goal moments earlier. The atmosphere underscored a significant contrast: Liverpool were playing with verve and confidence, reminiscent of their Premier League title-winning campaign, silencing the opposition and cruising towards a narrow victory.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois kept Real Madrid in the game with several outstanding saves, but Liverpool's attacking dominance proved too much. Key performers included Dominik Szoboszlai and Alex Mac Allister for Liverpool, while Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike impressed for the visitors. This victory provided a crucial boost for Liverpool manager Arne Slot, offering a timely reminder of the team's underlying quality after a run of poor results.