Liverpool beat Real Madrid 1-0 thanks to an Alexis McAllister header as Trent Alexander-Arnold endured a difficult return to Anfield in the Champions League.
Thibaut Courtois, Madrid’s best player, made three first-half saves to deny Dominik Choboslai, before heading past Virgil van Dijk and Hugo Ekitike after the break, with the hapless Florian Wirtz making the best of those chances when he was called off.
Madrid also avoided a controversial penalty decision in the first half, but Liverpool could not stay away forever, McAllister heading home Soboslai’s close-range cross. Xabi Alonso’s side, who are at the top of La Liga, never came close to equalizing.
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Clinton Morrison reacts to Liverpool’s penalty against Real Madrid
Alexander-Arnold, whose mural was defaced before the game, was booed onto the pitch for the warm-up, when his name was read by the announcer before kick-off, and finally, most loudly, when he was introduced as a late substitute.
His replacement at Liverpool right-back, Connor Bradley, faced a tough test against Vinicius Junior, but the Anfield crowd regularly chanted his name as he rose to the challenge well, even picking up a yellow card for running forward alone.
All in all, it was a cathartic performance for Liverpool, Arne Slott’s new-look side object to their much-improved performance against Aston Villa on Saturday night as they try to rediscover their best form after that alarming run of recent defeats.
The points lift them into the top eight in the Champions League table, level with Madrid, whose perfect record is coming to an end. The teams could meet again in the spring, when Alexander-Arnold will hope to have more say.
Bradley’s game to remember
Conor Bradley hugs Arne Slott after Liverpool’s win over Real Madrid in the Champions League
One of the final moments of the game summed up the evening. Alexander-Arnold, his every touch booed, whipped a cross into the box and Bradley was there at the back post to knock the ball out of play, sending Vinicius Junior onto his back.
The Anfield crowd enjoyed it, the home replacement for the full-back who left the Premier League champions to join Real Madrid outshining him. It was a tough night for Alexander-Arnold, but it was a game to remember for Bradley.
Not the first time against Madrid. It was that in the fight against Kylian Mbappe last season. This performance was arguably more complete, repeatedly excluding Vinicius Junior. It was the kind of display that confirmed his status as an elite quarterback.
There were signs against Aston Villa but this was another frame for Bradley. Slott has had to use Soboslai at right-back this season, but with the Northern Ireland international again he looks more than capable of cementing the spot as his own.