Arne Slot Impressed by the Performance of Liverpool Trio in Champions League Victory Over Real Madrid
Arne Slot paid tribute to Liverpool’s Academy as Conor Bradley, Curtis Jones, and Caoimhin Kelleher delivered standout performance in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Bradley played a key role in the opening goal, combining with goalscorer Alexis Mac Allister. Meanwhile, Kelleher made a crucial penalty save against Kylian Mbappe when the scoreline was 1-0, and Jones impressed with a dominant display in midfield. Their contributions helped secure Liverpool’s fifth consecutive win in the revamped European Cup.
Goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo secured Liverpool’s 17th victory in 19 games under Arne Slot this season. The performance of Bradley, Jones, and Kelleher were pivotal on the night, as Liverpool broke a 15-year winless streak against Real Madrid. The Reds reclaimed their position as leaders in the updated Champions League format and are set to face Girona on December 10.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker sidelined due to injuries, Bradley and Kelleher stepped up admirably. Meanwhile, Curtis Jones was chosen over Dominik Szoboszlai for the match. Slot believes the performances of these three players reflect the outstanding work being done within Liverpool’s Academy.
“Did Conor play the ball square to Macca [for the first goal]? He was in a strange position then as a right full-back! It is nice for him, his family, and for us but also for the Academy, that a player comes through the ranks and does so well,” Slot said.
“But it is not only Conor, Caoimh and Curtis were outstanding and all of them were but to have three Academy players doing so well is a big compliment for the Academy at this club. Conor did very well, but I am totally not surprised of him doing so well because he showed it last season and this as well, so it’s very nice for him.
“Every decision I have to make is a difficult one because I have so many quality players, but I think I have been clear about that situation (with Alisson being first choice over Kelleher). But tonight shouldn’t be that, it should be about about Caoimh being so important for us. It was a big moment for him.
“If you see Mbappe behind the ball and I thought what everyone thought – which was the same when Mo Salah stepped up – that this ball is probably going to go in.
“He saved it so it was a big moment for him, so let that be the headlines and not the other thing I was quite clear about a few weeks ago.”
On Ryan Gravenberch, Slot added: “He played a very good game which was not that easy because he conceded a yellow card early in the game.
“He is so comfortable on the ball and we like to have possession a lot and that helps when you have so many players who are comfortable and dominant on the ball and he brings together with our last line the ball to the players that can hurt the opposition.
“That is what makes him special together with his running capacity, he keeps on running. He, like the others, benefits from the team performance. I said it many times, the team performance makes the individual perform a and the other way around.”
In other news, Carlo Ancelotti Makes Real Madrid “Superiority” Claim in Honest Verdict After Liverpool Defeat
