Conor Bradley enjoyed a standout evening on Tuesday as Liverpool defeated Real Madrid in the Champions League. The young defender was instrumental in keeping Vinicius Jr quiet during the match, helping his team secure a crucial 1–0 victory.
Alexis Mac Allister netted the only goal, securing three vital points for Arne Slot’s side, who desperately needed a positive result in the competition. The game also marked Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return to Anfield, with Bradley once again stepping up in his absence.
Despite Bradley’s dominance on the defensive end, not everyone was fully convinced. Roy Keane voiced concerns about one area of his play, suggesting the full-back offered little attacking threat in the final third.
Keane has highlighted Bradley’s inability to provide much of a threat in the final third for Liverpool in their win over Real Madrid.
In contrast, Ian Wright came to Bradley’s defense, applauding his composure and resilience against one of Europe’s fiercest attackers.
“That’s why you want to see him up against a winger like that because that then takes him to another place, he did everything last night. He was fantastic to watch.”
The Liverpool academy graduate has also earned admiration from fellow professionals. Jeremie Frimpong praised Bradley’s efforts, noting how well he managed to contain Vinicius throughout the game.
This performance followed his strong showing against Aston Villa, signaling that Bradley is returning to top form at a critical moment of the season.
Bradley’s defensive excellence against Real Madrid earned both praise and critique, dividing opinion between Roy Keane’s caution and Ian Wright’s admiration of his maturity under pressure.