Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid looks dejected after the defeat to his former club Liverpool (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The discourse after this fixture was always going to be about the right-back. And as the Liverpool supporters made their way gleefully home, so it proved.

But it wasn’t the name of Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose first return to Anfield after joining Real Madrid in the summer had threatened to turn the game into mere afterthought, on the lips of Reds fans.

Instead, another stellar performance from Conor Bradley against the Spanish side highlighted why there is such belief the 22-year-old, albeit a very different kind of player, can fill the sizeable shoes left by Alexander-Arnold.

OPINION

In doing so, Bradley also responded to the challenge of Arne Slot by going again, remarkably the first time since the win over Real Madrid almost 12 months ago he had started two club games inside four days.

The Northern Irishman was excellent here. Faced with the onerous ask of keeping...