Arne Slot pays tribute to Liverpool’s Academy as the Reds beat Real Madrid 2-0 in the Champions League, highlighting the performance of three players after the game
Arne Slot paid tribute to Liverpool’s Academy as Conor Bradley, Curtis Jones and Caoimhin Kelleher all starred in the 2-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League. Bradley combined with goalscorer Alexis Mac Allister for the opening goal, Kelleher saved a penalty at 1-0 from Kylian Mbappe and Jones turned in a superb performance in midfield to help make it five successive victories in the new-look European Cup.
Goals from Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo sealed a 17th win from 19 games under Slot this term and all three of Bradley, Jones and Kelleher were important on the night as Liverpool recorded their first win against Real Madrid for over 15 years. The Reds restored their place as leaders of the revamped Champions League and now have a trip to Girona up next on December 10.
Bradley and Kelleher filled in for the injured duo of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker, while Jones got the nod over Dominik Szoboszlai and Slot thinks all three are testament to the work being undertaken in the youth ranks.
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“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.”
