Analysis: Outstanding Bradley leads Liverpool charge

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.