It is no secret that Trent Alexander-Arnold has completely changed the way fullbacks operate over the past six years.
Under Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool academy graduate became the poster boy for aggressive and marauding fullbacks, something many tried to emulate but no one managed to better.
The fans love him for the bravery he shows getting forward and for the energy he displays getting up and down the pitch. But that is not the only reason he’s adored in Merseyside.
In an era where football is becoming increasingly global, and there are fewer and fewer local players playing for the game’s biggest clubs, Liverpool fans love to see someone born less than three miles away from Anfield representing the city and making them proud.
That’s why it has been so difficult for Liverpool fans to stomach the idea that their number 66 might be leaving for pastures new.
The England international is in the final year of his contract and, come January, is able to speak to foreign clubs. The looming threat of interest from Real Madrid is becoming increasingly larger as we march towards the winter months.
For many Reds, the idea of losing one of the few local lads in their team, and not just that, one of their best players, is something that does not bear thinking about and has caused anxious Liverpudlians to question the future of the right back position. How do you replace the irreplaceable?
It turns out the answer was staring them in the face.
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A star is born
On November 9, Liverpool comfortably beat Aston Villa and continued showing their title credentials. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off with a hamstring injury, and Arne Slot turned to Northern Irish international Conor Bradley.
It should be noted that Bradley’s talent has not been a secret; everyone associated with the club was well aware that they had someone special in their ranks ever since he made his first-team debut in January of this year against Bournemouth and then, just a month later, found himself starting in the final of the Carabao Cup against Chelsea due to Klopp’s side being ravaged by injury.
Bradley played out the remaining 65 minutes against The Villains and was impressive.
As it turned out, Trent would be out for a little while longer, so the 21-year-old was granted his first start of the season in the Premier League against Southampton.
Once again, he passed the test and helped Liverpool garner three points, but with Trent still carrying an injury, Bradley was set to face his biggest test to date: the aforementioned Real Madrid.
Madrid arrive at Anfield
When Madrid come to town, they always tend to bring a host of stars with them, and their recent trip to Anfield was no exception. But the biggest name by far for Los Blancos was Kylian Mbappé.
The Parisian-born forward joined the Spanish giants in the summer after years of rumours and teasing. Many thought the electric forward would be the player that helps reach Madrid reach unbeatable status, and there would be no competing with Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
But it hasn’t really worked out that way. Despite the Frenchman’s numbers looking okay on paper, it feels that we’re yet to see the real Mbappé, and that is partly because he is playing down the middle when it is clear he would prefer to play off the left.
This game against Liverpool would present him with that opportunity as his teammate – and usual left winger for Madrid - Vinicius Junior was injured for the trip to England.
This was his chance to play in his favoured position and show the world that his decision to move to the Spanish capital had not been one of ill fate. To boot, he would play against the relatively inexperienced Conor Bradley. This was set to be Mbappé's night.
Liverpool controlled proceedings in the game's opening stages and were firmly on top, but Madrid always had the lingering threat of Mbappé and young Arda Güler's pace on the counterattack.
And after 30 minutes, that threat became a reality as Brahim Díaz picked up the ball and saw Mbappé in space. The chance the World Cup winner had been waiting for had come, an opportunity for him to cut in off the left and bury a trademark finish.
But as Madrid's number nine was making his way to Liverpool, looking set to leave the defenders for dust, something happened.
The tackle felt around Anfield
See, that young Northern Irish boy discussed earlier unknowingly wrote the opening chapter of his autobiography when he launched into the most picture-perfect slide tackle you have ever seen, and the noise it elicited from the Anfield faithful was spine-tingling.
As Mbappé got up from the crisp tackle, he had the look of someone who had just come off a rollercoaster and seemed completely unaware of where he was and what had happened. He was well and truly rocked.
Liverpool fans had just seen this kid take down one of the world’s best, and it felt significant. It was not just simply a well-timed tackle - but rather a seminal moment in the modern history of Liverpool football club.
It was the moment fans realised that, as much as it pains them, it’s okay for Trent to move on. They can be thankful for the memories he has given them over the years and be glad that it happened because his replacement was sitting on the bench this whole time; Bradley is clearly ready for the jump to Liverpool’s starting right back.
The tackle was swift and clinical – surgical almost- it lasted less than a second, but it told Liverpool fans everything they needed to know; it said more than 1000 words could have done.
Bradley picked up a knock at the end of the game against Madrid, which potentially is not the worst thing that could have happened to him, as it keeps his name away from the media spotlight and allows him to keep working on himself and his own game without the noise.
But the 2-0 win against Real Madrid on November 27, 2024, will forever be remembered as the night that Conor Bradley forged his way into the Liverpool team and Liverpool folklore.
