The first goal in matches between two such high level teams are usually of vast significance and critical to whether Liverpool would keep faith in their game plan or potentially lose confidence and be forced to take chances.
The sudden counter
Thibaut Courtois, however, would come out to meet the Liverpool free-kick and the Belgian’s powerfully-punched clearance suddenly turned a moment of defensive danger into an attacking opportunity.
Real are long-time masters at seizing such opportunities and, sensing the likely run forward from Kylian Mbappe, the ball was swiftly moved upfield and switched to the left.
Mbappe released
There is no one in world football quite like Mbappe at running onto a team while in space. And, having been lingering deep inside the Liverpool half in a semi-defensive position, Mbappe instantly sensed his chance.
He was a full 70 yards still from goal but on went the turbo boosters and he was already away and sprinting at Liverpool’s three remaining defenders before the ball had even been released.
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The… the tackle
Mbappe’s pace looked certain to do the rest but Conor Bradley, who had taken up a relatively central position, brilliantly sensed the danger. The temptation might have been to hold his position for a fraction longer but, knowing that Mbappe was surging on Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal, he was decisive in committing himself to the challenge.
Showing a rapid turn of pace, precision timing and considerable nerve,the 21-year-old then slid across the Liverpool penalty area to cleanly take the ball and instantly dispossess Mbappe. Any marginal mistake in the timing or execution and he would have risked a straight red card. The icing on the cake was the way that Bradley then even immediately got to his feet to calmly pass the ball and ensure that Liverpool retained possession.
Mbappe’s reaction
The reaction told its own story. Mbappe had thought that he was through. Madrid had thought that, in typical European style, they had weathered the pressure and were poised to make this decisive moment count.
Mbappe clapped his hands in frustration but there were no histrionics. He knew he had simply been dispossessed by a wonderful tackle and so he was quickly up on his feet and trying to regain possession.
The wider significance
No one doubts the attacking quality of Trent Alexander-Arnold but, in that single moment, Bradley seemed to weaken his team-mate’s negotiating position. Alexander-Arnold, who is reputedly a target of Real Madrid, has yet to agree a contract extension and, with an in-house potential replacement of such promise, Liverpool will surely have a limit on how far they are prepared to push their wage structure.
This was Bradley’s 12th appearance of the season and, in that one action in tackling Mbappe, he also audibly lifted the whole of Anfield and ensured that Liverpool retained their momentum before then taking the lead 20 minutes later.