"As a seething, soaking wet Anfield braced itself for one last Real Madrid fling, a narrative that had assumed pantomime quality throughout the evening threatened to turn more consequential. Trent Alexander-Arnold shaped to unfurl one of those dipping deliveries that have more than paid the Kop their due over the years and the thought flickered that, were it executed correctly, he might depart having helped to earn a point his team did not remotely deserve."
"For one thing, in keeping with a pallid display, Real's attack had neglected to offer AlexanderArnold a target. For another, when his cross swung out to no man's land with Vinicius Junior in half-hearted pursuit, a familiar obstacle lay in wait. Conor Bradley had thundered through the Brazilian, perfectly cleanly, near the byline in his previous foray and was not about to let anything go now."
"What a triumph this was for Bradley, who must fancy being wheeled out against La Liga's leaders every week. Almost a year ago he had ground Kylian Mbappe into submission here when a similarly dopey Real were beaten 2-0. This time he faced the more natural wide threat of Vinicius, who was unable to make the trip then. It was the latest test in an academy product's stopstart senior career;"
Anfield was seething and soaked as Real Madrid pressed late, but Real's attack offered few clear targets. Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered a late cross that lacked a recipient, leaving Vinicius Jr. to chase ineffectually. Conor Bradley decisively intervened, clearing the danger after having previously dominated Kylian Mbappé at the same ground. Bradley's performance underscored his readiness despite a stop-start senior career and invited comparisons with his returning predecessor. Alexander-Arnold faced persistent booing throughout warm-up, name announcements, and his 82nd-minute return, with tensions intensified by the overnight defacement of a mural bearing his likeness.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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