Bradley shuts down Vinícius and shows Liverpool he can be right-back for future

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For one thing, in keeping with a pallid display, Real’s attack had neglected to offer Alexander‑Arnold a target. Seeing the ball out as his opponent went flying in desperation, Liverpool’s current right-back completed a night’s work that rendered sideshows irrelevant.What a triumph this was for Bradley, who must fancy being wheeled out against La Liga’s leaders every week.

It was the latest test in an academy product’s stop‑start senior career; an even more almighty assignment given the gaze on his returning predecessor, with the inevitable invitations to compare and contrast.Alexander-Arnold was booed when he emerged for the warm‑up; he was booed when the Real substitutes’ names were announced; he was booed when he walked back inside; he was booed when entering in the 82nd minute for his first football since mid-September, and he was booed in those moments when, the clock ticking down, he sought to prompt a fightback. It became clear early on that Arne Slot’s players had Real’s number once more and that, with the chance to heave their season back on track, distractions should take a back seat.Trent Alexander-Arnold embraces his former teammate Conor Bradley at the end of the match.

Later Bradley outmuscled the Real left-back Álvaro Carreras, spared the Trent treatment despite his Manchester United connections, and 30 seconds after Alexander-Arnold’s arrival he brought the Kop to song by squeezing Vinícius out once again.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionIt has not been a straightforward season for Bradley. At 22 Bradley has the time, grounding and quality to make the shirt his own.Perhaps Alexander-Arnold would have told him that when the pair briefly embraced at full-time, had Real not felt obliged to scuttle off with tails between legs.