It was another famous European evening at Anfield on Wednesday evening as Liverpool beat Real Madrid in the Champions League.
It’s been over a decade since Liverpool beat Madrid, despite numerous meetings in the Champions League.
Liverpool results vs Real Madrid since 2009
Wins 1
Draws 1
Losses 7
Liverpool have lost two Champions League finals to Madrid in recent years, but on Wednesday, they buried some of those demons.
It was a stellar performance from Liverpool as a number of their key player stepped up.
Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo were the goalscorers on the day, but it’s Conor Bradley who impressed most.
Bradley has received plaudits after this game, and speaking on the Official Liverpool Podcast, Jay Spearing has named the young defender as the Reds’ best player on the night.
Conor Bradley of Liverpool FC during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on March 31, 2024 in L...
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Conor Bradley was Liverpool’s best player
Spearing was full of praise for Bradley after the match.
The pundit says that Bradley was outstanding on the day and he was probably the Reds’ best player.
“Conor Bradley is the first I’m going to pick out first and foremost. Wow. Jay, how impressed were you with what we got from him tonight?” Spearing was asked.
“Every single bit of it. I thought he was outstanding. I thought he was probably our best player.
“You know, like you said, there was a hell of a lot of individual performances. But as a team collective as well they were brilliant. But for me, I thought Conor was outstanding,” Spearing said.
“Everything, his passing, his overlapping, his underlapping, his tackling clearly from that. Obviously, the crowd going in the first half, his running forward, his imagination, I think he grew into the game as he got more and more. And he deserved to stand in ovation.
Obviously, we’re hoping that there’s nothing too serious with the injury that he’s come off with. And he’s available for Saturday. But for me, it shows the professionalism of the lad.
“He’s had to sit behind one of the best fallbacks in the world in Trent Alexander-Arnold. He’s had to buy his time. He went on loan to Bolton.
“Obviously, he’s done unbelievably well. He came back. He’s waited patiently to get an opportunity.
“For me, every time he’s had an opportunity, he’s been outstanding. He’s come in, he’s filled the spot. He’s got the crowd going.
“The crowd absolutely love him. He’s been brilliant. And he deserves all the accolades he’s getting at the minute.”
Conor Bradley stats vs Real Madrid
Spearing says Bradley was Liverpool’s best player against Real Madrid, and it’s easy to understand why.
The full-back was incredible on the night. He had the unenviable task of facing off against Kylian Mbappe – arguably the toughest test in world football.
However, Bradley passed that test with flying colours, putting up an impressive stat sheet.
Conor Bradley stats vs Real Madrid
Assists 1
Tackles 4
Touches 70
Shots 2
Those numbers would be brilliant in any game, but this was a Champions League match against Real Madrid – the biggest stage of them all.
Perhaps more tellingly, Kylian Mbappe’s stats against Liverpool were decidedly poor, and that’s because of the great work Bradley did down that flank.
Kylian Mbappe stats vs Liverpool
Goals 0
Shots 2
Dribbles 3
Key passes 0
Trent Alexander-Arnold could leave Liverpool next summer, but this performance from Bradley showed that the Reds will be fine if they have to contemplate life without Alexander-Arnold in the near future.
Liverpool remain top of the Champions League table, and it’s fair to say the future looks bright at Anfield.
Related Posts