Arne Slot paid tribute to a superb display from Conor Bradley after Liverpool beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League to ensure a miserable return to Anfield for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
In what was by far the Reds’ best display of a difficult season, Alexis Mac Allister’s powerful second-half header gave Thibaut Courtois no chance to secure the hosts their second win – and second clean sheet – in four days.
Liverpool dominated proceedings from the off, and only a series of brilliant saves from Courtois kept the scoreline respectable.
The Belgium international denied Dominik Szoboszlai on four occasions and also produced world-class stops to deny Virgil van Dyk and Hugo Ekitike in rapid succession.
But at the other end, Real’s Galacticos failed to shine.
Kylian Mbappé was anonymous, Jude Bellingham was restricted to just one chance which was well-saved by Giorgi Marmadashvilli, and Vinícius Júnior was marshalled superbly by Bradley.
Bradley earns Slot’s plaudits
In the end, it was the Northern Ireland international’s performance that Reds coach Slot chose to focus on after the game.
He told reporters: “Conor Bradley was outstanding. To be up against Vinícius so many times one against one is not for everyone, but he was outstanding.
“Last season, he was outstanding against Real Madrid, but he had to go off after 80 minutes. When he played 90 minutes against Villa [on Saturday], he again played 90 minutes with incredible intensity against Vinícius.”
Reflecting on Liverpool’s return to winning ways after a sequence of six defeats in seven games, the Dutchman added: “It is nicer if you win games than if you lose as a manager.
“If you lose, then it takes all of your time because you so badly want to change it, but you also try to be the same manager and person that you are when you are winning.”
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Alexander-Arnold’s night to forget
Alexander-Arnold had been given a taste of what to expect earlier in the day after his mural near Anfield was defaced by vandals overnight.
Boos then rang out when he took to the Anfield turf to warm up and again when his name as one of the substitutes was read out.
That vitriol reached a crescendo when he finally took to the field with 10 minutes remaining, his every touch and misplaced pass jeered by the same crowd who had previously hailed him as ‘the Scouser in our team’.
After the game, Bellingham tried to offer a different perspective on the crowd’s reaction.
He told reporters: “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. I am sure they’re appreciative of what he has done for the club.”
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