Conor Bradley showed Kylian Mbappe "no respect" with his crunching tackle on the Real Madrid superstar.
Bradley started at right-back for Liverpool's Champions League clash with Real Madrid at Anfield, having to fill the boots of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was on the bench with a hamstring injury. But the first-choice defender wasn't missed as Liverpool celebrated a long-awaited 2-0 win over Madrid - their first in 15 years.
That was down to Bradley's man-of-the-match display, which will be remembered for many years to come by the Anfield faithful. The 21-year-old Northern Irishman showcased his incredible athleticism and energy, keeping Madrid's key players - Mbappe and Jude Bellingham - at bay with ease.
One moment in particular showed just how little the youngster was fazed by such a huge occasion. With the game still 0-0 in the first half, Mbappe sought to break away on the counter until Bradley, having chased the Frenchman back from the halfway line, delivered a thunderous tackle from the side.
He won the ball cleanly, leaving the former World Cup winner flat on his back while potentially preventing Los Blancos from taking the lead. The throwback challenge sparked a roar of approval from the Anfield crowd.
Former Reds midfielder Danny Murphy heaped praise on Bradley's bravery and nerve, exemplifying maturity beyond his years. The pundit said on Match of the Day: "This was probably as big a roar as you've heard. It's the athleticism and the timing but also the courage to do it. There's no respect, the ball needs winning. It doesn't matter who you are."
But Bradley wasn't content with his one moment of fame. He continued to drive forward with lung-busting runs and his endeavour was rewarded when his pass into the box found Alexis Mac Allister, who scored the opener in the 52nd minute.
A standout performance included winning seven out of his 11 ground duels, winning three fouls, making nine recoveries, and achieving an 85 per cent pass success rate from 45 passes, including eight in the final third.
The only worry for Bradley on the night was when the defender appeared to suffer a hamstring issue late on and was replaced by Joe Gomez. Still, it was the kind of performance that signalled to Liverpool supporters that the right-back position remains secure, even with the potential departure of Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid on a free transfer come the end of the season.
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Chrismaris1
8
bro reminded me of Macherano, Nice one Bradley 👍