Taunting Trent & Brilliant Bradley - The Night Liverpool Fully Moved On

Conor Bradley was driven by nan afloat unit of Anfield's adoration, while Trent Alexander-Arnold – nan section boy who near Liverpool down - was fixed a sadistic and dispute reminder of his autumn from grace.

Bradley was earmarked arsenic Alexander-Arnold's heir evident from nan infinitesimal he announced his determination to time off Liverpool for Real Madrid, truthful erstwhile nan fates paired nan 2 European superpowers together successful nan Champions League, nan shape was set.

And what a opposition it was arsenic nan 22-year-old Northern Ireland right-back was nan sparkling awesome of a Liverpool show that harked backmost to their Premier League title-winning champion arsenic Real Madrid were swept aside.

Alexander-Arnold, who started connected nan bench, each nan while was near successful nary uncertainty really nan fans who erstwhile sang astir 'the Scouser successful our team' now respect him.

It was a time of unrelenting ill-feeling aimed successful Alexander-Arnold's direction, from his mural adjacent Anfield being vandalised pinch nan words "Adios El Rata" earlier nan crippled to nan Anfield anger provoked by what galore Liverpool fans respect arsenic his betrayal.

Bradley really fuelled nan fury and scorn aimed successful Alexander-Arnold's guidance pinch a magnificent show that reduced nan formidable Vinicius Jr to a passenger, only capable to connection theatrics – mediocre theatrics astatine that – successful nan look of nan youngster's beingness dominance.

Every Bradley tackle was shouted to nan echo, each walk greeted pinch Anfield's approval, his sanction chanted pinch gusto, not conscionable for his ain efforts but arsenic a voluble reminder to Alexander-Arnold that location was a caller kid successful town, that he was now firmly a fig from nan past.

Bradley, unsurprisingly, moreover won nan admiration of caput coach Arne Slot.

"Conor Bradley was outstanding," he said. "To beryllium up against Vinicius truthful galore times 1 against 1 is not for everyone, but he was outstanding."

If nan insults daubed connected Alexander-Arnold's mural did not make him alert of what was awaiting him, he was near successful nary uncertainty erstwhile he trotted connected to warm-up arsenic 1 of Real Madrid's substitutes earlier kick-off, jeers ringing astir Anfield, nan sound of disapproval repeated erstwhile his sanction was publication out.

And conscionable erstwhile it looked for illustration he mightiness flight nan full-scale vitriol, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso introduced him arsenic an 81st-minute substitute arsenic they tried to level Liverpool's lead, deservedly fixed to them by Alex Mac Allister's header conscionable aft nan hour.

The consequence to Alexander-Arnold's presence was savage, arsenic were nan mocking jeers that greeted a precocious transverse that drifted aimlessly retired of play.

Alexander-Arnold's unhappy cameo was played retired to nan sound of Liverpool's fans reminding him of those who had stayed loyal contempt temptations and opportunities to time off Anfield, namely erstwhile skipper Steven Gerrard, who watched connected from nan stands.

This was Liverpool's night, Bradley's nighttime – nan benignant of nighttime Anfield revels successful arsenic nan beingness of their erstwhile starr acted arsenic an moreover much potent catalyst to move up nan volume.

And Liverpool, who had looked mislaid pinch six defeats successful 7 games earlier Aston Villa were beaten connected Saturday, responded pinch a capacity that was easy their champion this season, a timely reminder of nan value that saw them stroll to nan title.

Slot relished Liverpool's return to winning ways, saying: "It is nicer if you triumph games than if you suffer arsenic a manager. If you lose, past it takes each of your clip because you truthful severely want to alteration it, but you besides effort to beryllium nan aforesaid head and personification that you are erstwhile you are winning.

"I did nan same, told them that pinch our set-piece equilibrium it is really difficult to triumph games of football. Our open-play chance creation was bully each play isolated from nan Villa game, which we won.

"So I tried to show them what was really happening alternatively of each nan sound astir them. The only point I tin do is show them my sentiment and dream it is beardown capable for them to judge me."

It was only nan protector of superb Real keeper Thibaut Courtois that threatened to extremity Liverpool getting what they merited, pinch a stunning individual capacity that revived memories of really he defied them erstwhile Jurgen Klopp's squad mislaid nan 2022 Champions League last successful Paris.

The Belgian made a drawstring of magnificent saves, including 4 from Dominik Szoboszlai and a singular reflex extremity from Virgil van Dijk's header, earlier moreover he was powerless to extremity Mac Allister's header from nan Hungarian's free-kick.

Liverpool's constrictive triumph separator does not touch nan sides of their domination from first whistle to last, these important 3 points pushing them into sixth spot successful nan Champions League table, a opinionated that will put them successful nan past 16 without nan request to edifice to a play-off if maintained.

Szoboszlai and Mac Allister ruled midfield, while Florian Wirtz provided immoderate of nan subtle touches that made his sanction astatine Bayer Leverkusen. Hugo Ekitike was a changeless menace.

Liverpool were, dissimilar truthful often this season, stone coagulated astatine nan backmost arsenic Kylian Mbappe was marginalised, delivering a dreadful, error-strewn display. Vinicius had been beaten by Bradley agelong earlier nan end.

If it was a miserable nighttime for Alexander-Arnold, it was not overmuch amended for Jude Bellingham, offered nan Anfield shape to present a reminder of his people earlier England caput coach Thomas Tuchel names his squad to look Serbia and Albania aft excluding him past time.

He provided 1 infinitesimal of threat successful nan first half erstwhile he forced Giorgi Mamardashvili to prevention pinch his legs, but was different anonymous arsenic Real grounded to found immoderate benignant of stranglehold.

Bellingham conceded nan free-kick successful a vulnerable position that led to Mac Allister's goal, offering small arsenic Real tried to unit their measurement backmost into contention, though he was not unsocial there.

He offered words of sympathy to Alexander-Arnold: "Obviously, it is 1 of those things successful football. The fans booing isn't a reflection of really they consciousness astir him.

"I deliberation it is much to springiness their squad nan separator and propulsion him disconnected a small bit. I americium judge they're appreciative of what he has done for nan club."

Alexander-Arnold, erstwhile an Anfield idol, astir apt could not hold to get backmost to his caller Madrid home, while life for Liverpool abruptly looks overmuch brighter up of Sunday's gathering pinch Manchester City astatine Etihad Stadium.