Conor Bradley lit up Anfield with a performance full of energy and confidence, while Trent Alexander-Arnold — once the pride of Liverpool — endured a bitter reminder of how quickly football loyalties can change.

Bradley was long seen as Alexander-Arnold’s natural successor, and when Liverpool were drawn against Real Madrid in the Champions League, fate couldn’t have scripted a more symbolic showdown.

The contrast between the two was stark. Bradley, just 22, embodied everything about Liverpool’s vintage form — fast, fearless, and full of conviction — as Real Madrid were convincingly swept aside. Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold, now wearing white after his high-profile move to Madrid, sat on the bench under a chorus of boos from fans who once idolized him.

The mood around Anfield was unforgiving. His mural near the stadium had been defaced before kickoff, and every mention of his name drew jeers. The message was clear — the local hero who once sang of being “the Scouser in our team” was now seen as a traitor.

Bradley, by contrast, couldn’t have had a better night. He completely nullified Vinícius Júnior, reducing Real Madrid’s star winger to frustration and theatrics. Each tackle, interception, and run forward was met with thunderous cheers from the Kop, who loudly chanted Bradley’s name as if to underline that a new era had begun.

Head coach Arne Slot was full of praise:

“Conor Bradley was outstanding. To face Vinícius one-on-one that often isn’t easy for anyone, but he was exceptional.”

A Return Marked by Jeers

When Alexander-Arnold stepped out to warm up before kickoff, he was met with a wall of hostility. And when Real coach Xabi Alonso finally brought him on in the 81st minute to try and salvage the match, the jeers grew even louder. His brief cameo — including an overhit cross that drifted harmlessly out of play — only deepened the sense that his Liverpool chapter was well and truly over.

From the stands, Steven Gerrard, a symbol of loyalty to the club, watched on as fans sang in his honor — a clear contrast to Alexander-Arnold’s reception.

This was Liverpool’s night — and Bradley’s in particular. Anfield thrives on emotion, and the presence of their former star seemed to spark the team into rediscovering their old fire. After a difficult spell of six defeats in seven matches, this dominant display felt like a turning point.

Slot reflected on the victory:

“Winning always helps. When you lose, you spend every minute trying to fix things. But I’ve tried to keep the same approach. Our play in open situations has been good — today, the result matched the performance.”

Dominant Display

Only Real keeper Thibaut Courtois prevented a heavier defeat, producing a string of superb saves reminiscent of his heroics in the 2022 Champions League final. But even he couldn’t stop Alexis Mac Allister’s precise header midway through the second half, which proved decisive.

Liverpool’s midfield duo of Dominik Szoboszlai and Mac Allister controlled the game, while Florian Wirtz showed flashes of his creative best. Hugo Ekitike kept Madrid’s defense busy throughout, and at the back, Liverpool were rock solid — Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius both well below their usual standards.

For Real Madrid, it was a night to forget. Jude Bellingham struggled to make an impact, his only bright moment a first-half shot saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili. To make matters worse, he conceded the free kick that led to Liverpool’s goal.

After the match, Bellingham defended his teammate:

“The boos aren’t really about Trent. It’s just the fans backing their team and trying to put him off. Everyone knows what he’s done for Liverpool.”

Still, as Alexander-Arnold made his way off the pitch, he must have been eager to return to Madrid — while Liverpool, revitalized and united, now look ahead with renewed confidence to their next challenge against Manchester City at the Etihad.