Jamie Carragher commented on Real Madrid's ongoing interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold after Liverpool maintained their unbeaten run in the Champions League – and Thierry Henry was left stunned.
Liverpool produced a scintillating performance against defending champions Madrid on Wednesday night as goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo secured their place in the Champions League knockout phase.
It was a superb team performance from Arne Slot's side, who made Los Blancos look distinctly average at Anfield, but one of the standout performers was right-back Conor Bradley.
In the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bradley not only recorded an assist but completed four tackles and eight duels. He also won possession back nine times against Carlo Ancelotti's side.
In fact, no player in the Champions League has recorded higher figures across those categories in a match this season, according to Opta.
After the full-time whistle, Jamie Carragher made a comment about the Northern Ireland international that grabbed many people's attention, including fellow pundit Thierry Henry.
Speaking on CBS Sports, Carragher said: “Coming into this game, there’s been a lot of talk about Real Madrid looking to buy Liverpool’s right back. But, I’m not sure if that player is called Trent Alexander-Arnold or Conor Bradley."
Clearly taken by surprise, Henry replied: “Wow!”
Henry was full of praise for Bradley, especially after his crunching tackle on Kylian Mbappe in the first-half.
“That (tackle), for me, already did set the tone,” Henry told CBS Sports. “Boom! That’s it. You all know, when you go into someone like that at the beginning of the game, you’re going to struggle.
“We see him making that run every time, he fancied it. You could see, he fancied himself against Mbappe.
“Everything he did was spot on. We were waiting for Salah, we were waiting for Mbappe, but we saw Conor Bradley so fair play to him.”
Conor Bradley was one of Liverpool's standout performers against Real Madrid. Image credit: Getty
Conor Bradley was one of Liverpool's standout performers against Real Madrid. Image credit: Getty
Henry added: “Conor Bradley was just outstanding. I think he didn’t have to do a lot defensively because Mbappe didn’t do a lot offensively, so it became very easy.
“But the positions he takes right now, what he can do and how he understands when he needs to make that run…
“The assist (for the opener) was not a Trent Alexander-Arnold assist, in all fairness, but still, he is where he is supposed to be.”
Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Liverpool are keen to initiate contract negotiations with the player, who has made over 300 appearances for his boyhood club, but reports in Spain suggest the defender's entourage have held discussions with Madrid over a potential transfer.