Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid: Match Verdict
Conor Bradley’s performance in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League has earned rave reviews.
Conor Bradley has set the standard of the levels he must hit consistently after his outstanding Liverpool performance against Real Madrid.
The right-back delivered a superb display as the Reds earned a 1-0 victory over the Spanish giants in the Champions League at Anfield. Bradley earned rave reviews as he nullified the threat of Madrid winger Vinicius Jr throughout the contest.
The right-hand side of defence has proved somewhat of a problem position for Liverpool so far this season as they find themselves seven points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal. Bradley started the campaign injured, while Jeremie Frimpong - signed to fill the void of Trent Alexander-Arnold - is on the treatment table with a hamstring issue.
But Bradley has started to build momentum and fitness, with his performance against Madrid arguably the best of his Liverpool career.
Speaking on ESPN, former Liverpool full-back Nicol reckons Bradley has been ‘overthinking’ in previous performances. Now the Northern Ireland international has been challenged to deliver week in, week out.
What’s been said
Nicol, who won four league titles and the European Cup with the Reds, said: “I can't help the way I think but at times watching Bradley and Vini, I'm like: 'Where has this been all season!?'
It't not just him but particularly with him: 'Where has this been all season?' Defensively, he has made mistakes but tonight he was like a tiger. He was all over Vini. There were a couple of times where he was overzealous but I'd prefer that as opposed to standing off. I said that Liverpool had forgotten to play football so when you go out and play, you do things naturally.
“There was no-one overthinking it more than Bradley. When he was defending previously, he's thinking about all the things he's been told; don't get too tight, don't get too far off. By the time you think all this, the guy is gone. What was happening previously among the lot of them, that is the standard you have set and the standard you need to come up with every time you step on the field.
“If he does that, he'll be playing right-back whether Frimpong is injured or not. He will be the right-back. it was great to see him doing well but I hope he takes that lesson that that's the standard.”
Slot’s verdict
Liverpool boss Arne Slot was equally impressed with the performance of Bradley. Speaking at his post-match press conference, Slot said: “Conor was outstanding. It was very nice. Last season he was outstanding against Real Madrid but he had to go off after 80 minutes because of an injury.
“Now, three days after he played 90 minutes against Villa, he again played 90 minutes with incredible intensity against Vinicius. I told the players before the game, they have scored 26 goals in La Liga and Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius have 24 goal contributions together. So if you want to have any chance of winning a game, you should defend your set-pieces well because that's a way teams score, but great individuals can score goals as well and these two definitely can. Conor defended very good against Vinicius.”
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