Liverpool

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

On a raucous night at Anfield, Conor Bradley fuelled the fury and scorn aimed in Trent Alexander-Arnold's direction with a magnificent display against Real Madrid. He reduced the formidable Vinicius Jr to a passenger that was only able to offer theatrics – poor theatrics at that – in the face of the youngster's physical dominance.

Every Bradley tackle was cheered to the echo, every pass greeted with Anfield's approval and his name chanted with gusto, not just for his own efforts but as a voluble reminder to Alexander-Arnold that there was a new kid in town, that he was now firmly a figure from the past.

Bradley, unsurprisingly, even won the admiration of head coach Arne Slot.

"Conor Bradley was outstanding," he said. "To be up against Vinicius so many times one against one is not for everyone, but he was outstanding."

It was a day of unrelenting ill-feeling aimed in Trent Alexander-Arnold's direction, from his mural near Anfield being vandalised with the words "Adios El Rata" before the game to the Anfield anger provoked by what many Liverpool fans regard as his betrayal.

If the insults daubed on Alexander-Arnold's mural did not make him aware of what was awaiting him, he was left in no doubt when he trotted on to warm up as one of Real Madrid's substitutes before kick-off, jeers ringing around Anfield, the sound of disapproval repeated when his name was read out.

And just when it looked like he might escape the full-scale vitriol, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso introduced him as an 81st-minute substitute as they tried to level Liverpool's lead, deservedly given to them by Alexis Mac Allister's header just after the hour.

The response to Alexander-Arnold's arrival was savage, as were the mocking jeers that greeted a late cross that drifted aimlessly out of play.

Alexander-Arnold's unhappy cameo was played out to the sound of Liverpool's fans reminding him of those who had stayed loyal despite temptations and opportunities to leave Anfield, namely former captain Steven Gerrard, who watched on from the stands.

This was Liverpool's night, Bradley's night - the sort of night Anfield revels in as the presence of their former star acted as an even more potent catalyst to turn up the volume.

Read Phil's full piece

Image source, The Sun/The Daily Mirror

Alexis Mac Allister is dominating the back pages after scoring Liverpool's winning goal against Real Madrid for the second year in a row.

Arne Slot's side looked back to their best at Anfield as late substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold received a frosty reception on his homecoming.

Image source, The Guardian/The i

Liverpool boss Arne Slot says his former player Trent Alexander-Arnold remains "very special" to him after he returned to Anfield on Tuesday night.

Alexander-Arnold was given a fiercely hostile reception when he came on as substitute during Real Madrid's 1-0 defeat against his boyhood club.

Asked whether he spoke to Alexander-Arnold after the game, Slot said: "Only shortly afterwards, I gave him a hug.

"I don't know exactly what I said, but probably not a lot.

"Every time I meet him, I will either talk to him or give him a hug.

"He's been very special to me as a player and as a human."

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to Amazon Prime: "Very pleased. It's been [some] tricky weeks for us, many away games, hardly any rest in between every single game.

"Again, we only had two days in between this game but the same was there for Real Madrid. It helps if you can play in front of these fans and you can play in front of Real Madrid because I think that brings the best out of my players and out of our fans.

"A great performance against a team that only lost once all season. It could have been a bit more maybe."

On getting a second consecutive clean sheet: "I said before the game that they have scored 26 goals in La Liga, and [Kylian] Mbappe and Vinicius Jr together have 24 goal contributions. So, if you want to win this game you have to make sure that these two are not on the scoresheet.

"The whole team defended really well, in the high press and the low block. Conor [Bradley] was outstanding. To be up against Vinicius so many times one-v-one is not for everyone. He did outstanding today."

On dealing with such a poor run: "It is nicer if you win games than if you lose as a manager. If you lose then it takes all of your time because you so badly want to change it but you also try to be the same manager and person that you are when you are winning.

"I did the same, told them that with our set-piece balance it is really hard to win games of football, open-play chance creation was good all season apart from the Aston Villa game, which we won. So I tried to tell them what was actually happening instead of all the noise around them.

"The only thing I can do is tell them my opinion and hope it is strong enough for them to believe me."

"Sunday [against Manchester City] is another game coming up against a very strong team. We have lost too many points in the Premier League but in the Champions League we are doing well. We need to do better and that is what we are going to try and there's a lot of games coming up for us to show that."

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Anfield

Image source, Getty Images

Conor Bradley has long been regarded as the heir apparent to the vacancy left behind by Trent Alexander-Arnold, and the 22-year-old Northern Ireland defender showed exactly why with an outstanding display.

Liverpool's fans revelled in Bradley's physical battle with Vinicius Jr, chanting his name to the echo while reserving their fury for the local boy who left Anfield behind.

Bradley's progress has been curtailed by injuries, but he was the symbol of a Liverpool display which carried all the old intensity and creation that deserted them during their recent run of losses.

Dominik Szoboszlai was outstanding in midfield, only denied by the brilliance of Thibaut Courtois, while match-winner Alexis Mac Allister's return to form in the past two games has also transformed a side that looked lost earlier this season.

Liverpool's defence never yielded to Real at any point, and it was only when Courtois was at his defiant best that it looked like the Reds might not get the win that pushes them up into sixth in the table, a standing that would earn them automatic passage into the last 16 without the need for a play-off.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, speaking to Amazon Prime: "I think there was a lot of energy and a lot of hard work. Obviously, they have won 14 in the last 15 - they have a lot of quality. We know their strengths.

"So, we had to be spot on in everything we do. I think we performed our gameplan perfectly.

"It is easy to say now because we won twice in a row - in a world of chaos you have to stay calm and see perspective of things."

On standing up to criticism from pundits: "I am living with players that might have been affected by it. If you lose a game for Liverpool - four, five games – there is criticism - that is normal in a sense.

"It is over the top at times. I think it's because we live in the world of so many platforms, so many people can say stuff, and it can be picked up. Ex-players that played at the highest level had difficult moments as well.

"I want to perform for the team, the club and everyone who supports us through thick and thin."

On keeping a clean sheet: "You can see at the moment Arsenal are flying, and it is down to clean sheets and not conceding chances.

"We have the quality to hurt anyone on the break - it starts with the defending. Today you saw the hard work.

"We have to keep going. Sunday is going to be another difficult one. We all know how football works - it can change over night."

Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, also speaking to Amazon Prime: "I think it was a good game against a really good team. A win, but we know it doesn't mean anything - the experience last season, we finished first and then after that we were out quite early."

On Thibaut Courtois: "He is a fantastic keeper - we all know. He had a few saves, so again I think he is a really good keeper, but today I think we were better and deserved to win."

Did you know?

• Florian Wirtz created five chances from open play for the second time in a Liverpool shirt (also vs Atletico Madrid), the only Premier League player to do so in more than one game across all competitions this season.

• Alexis Mac Allister scored his third goal in the Champions League and first since last November, when he also put the Reds 1-0 up at Anfield against Real Madrid.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Get in touch with your views

Come back to this page on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies

Liverpool make one change from the starting XI that beat Aston Villa on Saturday. Florian Wirtz starts in place of Cody Gakpo, who is on the bench for the Reds.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is named among Real Madrid's substitutes on his return to Anfield, after leaving Liverpool for the Spanish club in the summer.

There are nine games in the Champions League on Tuesday and BBC Sport will be bringing you every moment.

• Napoli v Eintracht Frankfurt (17:45)

• Slavia Prague v Arsenal (17:45) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Atletico Madrid v Union Saint-Gilloise

• Bodo/Glimt v Monaco

• Juventus v Sporting

• Liverpool v Real Madrid - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Olympiacos v PSV

• Paris St-Germain v Bayern Munich

• Tottenham Hotspur v Copenhagen - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

All kick-off times 20:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction

You can also listen to 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Real Madrid", for instance.

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Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

So Liverpool managed to stop the rot with a win against Aston Villa, though it was a result aided by some inadequate passing out from the back from the Villans. Mohamed Salah was the beneficiary, scoring a desperately needed tap-in.

It signalled a reversion to what had worked so well for the Reds last season. Liverpool have had to rest some players, and there have been injuries too, but when a win was absolutely necessary, back came Salah as well as the Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister core.

It is not just about quality of the players - personalities are vital at times like these. Eventually Arne Slot has to revamp the group but he now understands this has to be done in a more considered way.

The most fitting case in point is Andy Robertson. The Scot was always going to have a battle with the younger Milos Kerkez who was brought in as his replacement for £40m. The problem is that during the recent run of four league defeats, Arne ignored his loyal left-back Robertson even though he was clearly needed by the team. New isn't always better.

To Slot's credit he did eventually step away from those convictions, if maybe a little grudgingly, and brought Robertson back for the Villa game. Revolution not evolution may well be what Slot wanted this season but that is dangerous.

Overlooking those who got you to the top in the first place doesn't always go down well, especially with his fellow workers who like and respect him.

We all make mistakes, Slot may have rectified his biggest one regarding the pace of change.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Image source, Getty Images

Former Liverpool player Robbie Fowler believes Liverpool can use Trent Alexander-Arnold's return to their "advantage" by making the atmosphere "more intense" for Tuesday's Champions League visit of Real Madrid.

Alexander-Arnold is set to return to Anfield for the first time since his summer transfer to Madrid.

The English full-back has featured just four times for Los Blancos in the league so far this season after picking up a hamstring injury in September.

However, Alexander-Arnold has returned to the bench in their last two games, and has the chance to start against his former club.

"I'm looking forward to seeing Trent. I don't want them to get a result obviously, but I appreciate he was and still is a world class player, and a big miss for Liverpool," Robbie Fowler told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"We can all have opinions on what we should do, but I think the majority will understand and respect what he did for Liverpool.

"I think they'll let their feelings be known, and give him a bit of a hard time.

"Liverpool could use that to their advantage, it could be used to inspire the crowd and make the atmosphere a little bit more intense as Liverpool get into Real Madrid on the front foot."

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty believes Alexander-Arnold can expect a mixed greeting if he does feature against his boyhood club.

"I suspect it will be mixed. When he announced last season he was leaving, many fans made their feelings clear when he was brought on as a sub against Arsenal with loud booing," McNulty told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Feelings were hurt, he was a local boy and part of a great Liverpool team, and he left at the end of his contract.

"Emotions are running high, plenty will welcome him, but I suspect a few others might not."

On Monday, Real Madrid representatives including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen and manager Alonso visited Anfield and placed a wreath in memory of Diogo Jota.

The card written by Alexander-Arnold read: "My mate Diogo, You are so missed but still so loved. Yours and Andre's memory will always live on. I smile everytime I think about you and will always remember the great times we shared. Miss you mate, every day. Love Trent and family."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso speaking to media on the eve of his side's Champions League meeting with Liverpool at Anfield: "It's a Clasico of European football, Real Madrid and Liverpool because of their history in the Champions League, and it's one of those games the fans really look forward to seeing. Trent and I have history here at Liverpool, and it's always great to come back to a place where they have loved you so much. We are coming to do our thing tomorrow, which is to play well and come away with a good result."

On his time at Liverpool and Benitez and how it has influenced his career: "A lot because it wasn't a simple step. I had long periods as a player and I learnt a lot from Rafa about elite football, to analyse details, prepare for games, and I also had the curiosity and which helped me to be in the position I am right now. And if you like football, you want to be in one of Europe's big teams, like Liverpool, and they helped me a lot as a player and as a manager, too."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on what kind of reception you are expecting or hoping for should Trent Alexander-Arnold feature on Tuesday night against Liverpool at Anfield.

Here are some of your comments:

Rob: A Liverpool legend, was with us for 20 years, won everything you could ever win with one club. Should be applauded, never booed.

David: He was a good servant for the club, but I get fed up with ex-players and managers (Klopp) saying how much he had done for the club. What seems to be forgotten is what the club did for him. Liverpool made him the footballer he is and he let the club and fans down. His fluent Spanish showed that he was always going to leave but he disrespected the fans and possibly the club by refusing to make his intentions clear. He will get the reception he deserves.

Yusuf: His home is Liverpool and coming back to your home should feel warm and welcoming - he needs a hero's welcome. Set up Origi for our fourth against Barcelona, resulting us winning the Champions League. That absolutely stunning performance against Leicester in 2019, and provided 13 assists one the way to our first title in 30 years. He is an important part of the club's rejuvenation under Klopp and booing him after all of this is major disrespect to the invaluable contributions he made to the club.

Rob: I hope he is cheered but expect the opposite. A warm welcome at the start but boos whenever he is on the ball would be a compromise? Probably very mixed views amongst supporters on this one. But everyone should concentrate on supporting our team and not be bothered by those players who have left.

Ian: I think the best thing that Liverpool fans can do tomorrow is nothing. Don't boo, but don't cheer or applaud Trent either. Treat him like any other visiting player.

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist

Tuesday is the 25th anniversary of one of the most memorable Premier League matches involving Leeds United - when Mark Viduka scored all four goals in an amazing 4-3 victory against Liverpool at Elland Road.

Manchester United were still the dominant force of English football at that time, but David O'Leary's Leeds and Gerard Houllier's Liverpool were competing near the top of the table. The previous season, they had finished third and fourth respectively.

BBC Sport's report of the match on 4 November, 2000, says Australia striker Viduka "single-handedly destroyed Liverpool with a four-goal blast in an encounter of stunning drama" and "delivered a display of almost flawless marksmanship".

"Every time I had a sniff of goal I scored, but I have actually played better," said Viduka. "These days are very rare, but it was a fantastic win for us."

Liverpool had gone 2-0 up early on with goals from Sami Hyypia and Christian Ziege, but Viduka scored either side of half-time to level the score.

Vladimir Smicer restored Liverpool's advantage, before two goals in three minutes from former Celtic forward Viduka secured an incredible win for the hosts.

"We got lucky, but I always felt we could score against them," said Leeds boss O'Leary. "I loved beating Liverpool as a player - and I like it as a manager."

Leeds would also win at Anfield to complete a league double later in the season, but Liverpool would eventually pip the Yorkshire club to third spot in the league by one point - earning the Reds a place in the following season's Champions League.

Liverpool have joined the race to sign River Plate's 18-year-old Argentine winger Ian Subiabre. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has insisted that Trent Alexander-Arnold "will get a warm welcome" from him, while midfielder Ryan Gravenberch "will give him a hug" on the full-back's Anfield return.

Just months after he faced boos from supporters after revealing he would be leaving his boyhood club to join Real Madrid at the end of his contract in the summer, Alexander-Arnold could be set to walk out on the pitch in front of them again when the La Liga club visit in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The club's staff seem certain of their own responses to seeing the 27-year-old again. Gravenberch said: "From the fans I don't know, but he's obviously a friend of mine so I will give him a hug of course."

Slot told reporters: "I can only tell you what kind of reception he gets from me. I only have good memories from him as a player and as a human being."

When it comes to fans, Alexander-Arnold will soon find out if time has healed fractures in the relationship and, with the Reds having struggled on the right in his absence this season, whether there will be any greater appreciation for what he did in the side.

So, what kind of reception are you expecting or hoping for should Alexander-Arnold feature on Tuesday night?

Get in touch with your views here

And read more about Alexander-Arnold's return here

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Champions League game against Real Madrid at Anfield (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Slot confirmed that goalkeeper Alisson, right-back Jeremie Frimpong and striker Alexander Isak are all out for Tuesday's match, with the former two also unavailable for Sunday's game at Manchester City.

• He said Sweden striker Isak will "definitely not start" at the weekend but could be in the squad.

• The Liverpool boss insisted that "Sunday's game is not in my thinking" when choosing his line-up to face Real Madrid and said that "the good thing is we won on Saturday - and that was about time for us to start winning again".

• On his message for fans after the difficult run: "I say to them, show up tomorrow and help us like they did on Saturday. They were a big help for the team and again tomorrow we face a team that's on a great run, just as Aston Villa was. Then it's always a pleasure to play at home.

• He reiterated the value of the home crowd in inspiring his team: "In the run we had, we almost only played away. On Saturday, Anfield showed how important they can be for the team and let's hope the fans do the same tomorrow evening."

• On playing Real Madrid and City in consecutive games for the second straight season: "Every game we play is a test because we're a new team. It's not the same as last season. Last season we played both at home - now one is away. Last season we faced a Real Madrid team that had many injuries and now they don't. It's not the same as we are a different team and now the injuries are back. We know every game we play is always a test."

• On the struggles endured by big money summer signing Florian Wirtz: "He has had an impact in many games but he has been unlucky with the end product, whether him or other players. He has brought what we expected, a player that can contribute a lot for the team. He will have his goals as well. If you're 22 or 23 and come from a different league, you need some time to adapt to the intensity of playing every two or three days. You had Ryan Gravenberch in before me and it took Ryan time to adapt to the intensity."

• Slot backed Dominik Szoboszlai to "bring all the qualities" he showed in the number 10 position against Aston Villa to any position he plays: "He has been influential in every game he has played, in every position I have played him in."

• Liverpool "respect" Real Madrid and their achievements in Europe, with Slot adding: "I saw a very good Real Madrid [last season] and I see that now. They have always been a big force in this competition. They are a very good team, but we are a very good team as well."

Catch up on all of Monday's Champions League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to full commentary of Liverpool v Real Madrid on BBC Radio 5 Live from 20:00 GMT on Tuesday