It's too early to say whether Conor Bradley has made a name for himself throughout the football world and whether he took £20million in one European night. What is certain is that this 21-year-old Northern Irish right-back, author of only 18 appearances in the Premier League in his young career, flew from start to finish in his duel with Kylian Mbappé this Wednesday. The usual understudy of Trent Alexander-Arnold in fact poisoned the star striker of Real Madrid on each of his rare breakthroughs from his supposed preferential left side, during Liverpool's clear victory (2-0).
Conor Bradley even made the whole of Anfield roar with pleasure with a furious tackle stopping a counter-attack from Kylian Mbappé (32nd). Moreover, several of the 15 balls lost on Wednesday by the captain of the Blues (out of 43 touchdowns in 95 minutes) were at the origin of big opportunities for the Reds. Like in the 4th minute of play, when a dazzling transition launched by Mohamed Salah pushed Thibaut Courtois to a decisive save in front of Darwin Nunez then Raul Asencio to a save on his line.
Salah, Mbappé, the cursed penalty takers at Anfield
In the 69th minute, yet another missed (and half-hearted) dribble against Conor Bradley led, a few seconds later, to a penalty obtained by Salah against Ferland Mendy. “Luckily” for Mbappé, the Egyptian international did not target his attempt. A cursed exercise this Wednesday since Kylian Mbappé failed before him for the first time this season, when offering an unexpected equalizer to his team (1-0 in the 61st).
In addition to Bradley and his compatriot Ibrahima Konaté, sublime in this C1 shock, Kylian Mbappé therefore managed to make Alisson Becker's replacement shine, namely the little-known Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Starting on the right side, he perfectly repelled the open-footed attempt, too soft and halfway up, from a “Kyky” in a 100% difficult evening, even more so than against AC Milan (1-3 ) three weeks earlier. If he himself has not spoken to the media, we can wonder when this endless decline of the ex-PSG phenomenon will stop.
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“It could be a lack of confidence”
Does he also benefit from real support within the demanding and ruthless White House, which finds itself on the brink of the abyss in C1 (24th and last virtual qualifier three days from the end of the first phase ) ? Faithful to his reputation as a golden manager, Carlo Ancelotti did the job in a press conference on this front: “For Kylian Mbappé, it’s a difficult moment. It could be a lack of confidence. He should not be blamed for this missed penalty. You have to be patient with him, he is an exceptional player. We will support him and give him love.”
Author of only one goal in five Champions League matches since his arrival in Spain (7 goals in 12 La Liga matches), the Madrid number 9 is cruelly struggling to let go and make the slightest difference, on the momentum of his end season at PSG and its Euro 2024. Even the injury absence of Vinicius Jr, which allowed him to have free rein on the left wing and more offensive responsibilities, did not have the slightest beneficial effect on him this Wednesday.
A potential meme, face in the lawn
Barely less disappointing, Jude Bellingham in turn insisted on defending the star recruit of the summer on the Merengue side: “His penalty was obviously an important moment of the match but it can happen to miss it. The pressure he is under because of his talent is enormous. It's not because of this penalty that we lost. Collectively, we weren't good enough. Kylian can hold his head high.”
Our file on Kylian Mbappé
The other strong image that will remain from the evening, including on the front page of Sports World and in several chamber/viral montages on social networks, is the amplified fall of Mbappé after being hit by Virgil Van Dijk (17th). A strange breakdance type position, face (hidden) in the lawn and legs in the air. A boy in reverse, as has almost always been the case since the start of his “dream” adventure in Madrid.
