How Slot's Bradley tweak tore Real Madrid apart

Between a crunching tackle, a positional tweak, and brilliance on both sides of the ball, Conor Bradley was Liverpool's key man against Real Madrid.

Photo: IMAGO | Anfield Index

It is funny to think now that Conor Bradley was considered a potential weak spot for Liverpool coming into their meeting with Real Madrid.

Reds supporters had feared that Trent Alexander-Arnold might be a big miss on the right-hand side of defence, while their Real counterparts were hoping that Kylian Mbappe’s return to the left wing in place of the injured Vinicius Junior would help exploit that gap.

Nobody, it seems, had considered that the hosts’ second-choice right-back would instead become the key reason his team won the game.

Such was the ease with which he won his individual battle with Mbappe, a look at Bradley’s defensive numbers from Wednesday evening is probably unnecessary.

But, in case you were wondering, 8/12 duels won, 2/4 tackles won and nine recoveries offers fairly conclusive proof of his solidity on the night.

However, Bradley’s influence went far beyond simply locking down his flank, and that is thanks in part to the genius of his manager Arne Slot.

In the first half on Wednesday, Liverpool occasionally struggled to play through Real’s press as they built up in a 4-1-5 with Ryan Gravenberch acting as a sole pivot.