Manchester City may have run riot at the Etihad with a 3-0 win over Liverpool, but even in defeat, one Liverpool star managed to catch Pep Guardiola’s eye.
The City boss couldn’t help but single out Conor Bradley for praise after the match, describing the young right-back as a “special talent” following his spirited display against Jeremy Doku.
Liverpool struggled throughout the game as City’s attack proved too sharp and too slick. Erling Haaland opened the scoring with a towering header after missing an early penalty, Nico Gonzalez added a second before halftime, and Doku wrapped up the result with a curling strike.
For Arne Slot, it was a day to forget — but for Bradley, it was one to remember.
Guardiola’s rare praise for a rival
After the final whistle, Guardiola took a moment to talk about the Liverpool youngster in his post-match press conference.
“Conor Bradley from Liverpool, I am really impressed,” said Guardiola. “Pep Lijnders told me a thousand incredible things about him — he can do everything. Against Madrid and Vinicius Jr, wow. And so Jeremy Doku played an outstanding game.”
Coming from Guardiola — who was celebrating his 1,000th match as a manager — those words carry serious weight. The Spaniard rarely praises opposition players, but Bradley’s calmness, determination, and defensive discipline clearly stood out even in a losing effort.
The 22-year-old, who replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold this season, found himself in one of the toughest jobs in football: marking Doku at full speed.
And while the scoreline was heavy, Bradley held his own in several key duels, showing grit and composure that belied his age.
A small spark in a gloomy day
Liverpool fans didn’t have much to cheer about at the Etihad. But Bradley’s performance was a rare reminder that the future at Anfield still shines bright.
He registered eight defensive contributions, including three tackles and three interceptions, while also venturing forward with intent whenever space allowed.
Virgil van Dijk also acknowledged the youngster’s effort after the match:
“Doku had a good game and it was difficult for Conor in the one-on-one at times,” said the captain. “But he gave everything. We could have done better as a team.”
Despite City’s dominance, Bradley never stopped running, never stopped pressing — and that’s exactly the kind of spirit Liverpool supporters love.
Conor Bradley Stats (2025/26 Premier League)
| Metric | Output | Squad Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Minutes Played | 534 | 12th |
| Average Passes | 31.8 | 9th |
| Pass Success Rate (%) | 86% | 9th |
| Tackles per Match | 1.1 | 5th |
| Interceptions per Match | 0.9 | =2nd |
| Clearances per Match | 1.2 | 10th |
| Blocks per Match | 0.3 | 4th |
| Overall Rating | 6.41 | 13th |
With Alexander-Arnold now at Real Madrid and Jeremie Frimpong still finding his rhythm, Bradley seems ready to make the right-back spot his own. His progress has been one of the few bright notes in an otherwise inconsistent start under Slot this season.
Liverpool face Nottingham Forest and PSV after the international break, and fans will hope the Northern Irishman continues to prove why Guardiola — and everyone else — can’t stop talking about him.