Bradley shines as Anfield turns on Alexander-Arnold
The roar of Anfield returned with full force as Liverpool produced their finest display of the season, brushing aside Real Madrid in a Champions League clash charged with emotion and symbolism.
At the heart of it all stood Conor Bradley, and, in the shadows, his predecessor Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Northern Irishman, once dubbed the natural successor to Alexander-Arnold, seized the stage with a performance that captured Liverpool’s spirit.
Meanwhile, the former hometown hero, now wearing Real Madrid white, faced the unrelenting wrath of fans who once sang his name.
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Hostile homecoming
From the moment Alexander-Arnold’s mural near Anfield was defaced with “Adios El Rata,” it was clear this was no ordinary return. Boos and jeers followed him through the warm-up, the reading of his name, and again when he entered as an 81st-minute substitute.
Bradley, by contrast, embodied everything the crowd wanted to celebrate.
His tireless work blunted Vinicius Jr’s threat, each challenge greeted by thunderous applause.
Every touch seemed to remind fans that Liverpool had found not just a replacement, but a new standard on the right flank.
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Head coach Arne Slot was full of praise after the match. “Conor Bradley was outstanding,” he said. “To be up against Vinicius, is not for everyone, but he was outstanding.”
Bradley’s big night
The 22-year-old dominated Real’s left side, forcing Vinicius into a subdued performance while energising his teammates and supporters alike.
The contrast could not have been sharper when Alexander-Arnold’s brief cameo ended with a misplaced cross that drew mocking cheers from the Kop.
In the stands, former captain Steven Gerrard, who famously resisted overtures to leave Liverpool, watched on as fans chanted reminders of loyalty and legacy.
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For Alexander-Arnold, the affection once lavished on him had turned cold.
Liverpool’s renewed vigour, following six losses in seven games, reignited hopes of progress in Europe.
Alexis Mac Allister’s header sealed a deserved victory, a result that brought a sense of restoration to both team and supporters.
Slot’s satisfaction
Slot spoke candidly about the team’s revival. “It is nicer if you win games than if you lose as a manager,” he said. “You try to stay the same person when things go badly, but I told them what was really happening instead of listening to all the noise around.”
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His words reflected a mood shift. Dominik Szoboszlai and Mac Allister ran the midfield, Florian Wirtz added finesse, and Hugo Ekitike’s relentless pressing unsettled Madrid’s defence.
At the back, Liverpool were composed, with Virgil van Dijk steadying the line.
Real’s resistance came only from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, whose string of saves kept the scoreline respectable.
His heroics echoed his famous display in the 2022 final, though this time even he could not deny Liverpool their moment.
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Madrid’s muted stars
While Bradley flourished, Real’s stars faltered. Kylian Mbappé endured one of his poorest nights in recent memory, while Vinicius Jr was outplayed.
Jude Bellingham, who had the chance to impress ahead of England’s squad announcement, was largely invisible and conceded the foul that led to Liverpool’s winner.
Bellingham defended Trent after the match, saying: “The fans booing isn't a reflection of how they feel about him. I think it is more to give their team the edge and throw him off a little bit.”
But for Alexander-Arnold, the message from Anfield was unmistakable. The player who left the club was no longer their hero, and as he trudged off, Bradley stood where he once had: adored, unstoppable, and at the heart of Liverpool’s future.
Sources: BBC, Reuters, AP
