Liverpool went to Selhurst Park with belief, with confidence, with the hunger of a team that had not yet tasted defeat this season. But the game ended in heartbreak. Crystal Palace walked away with victory, leaving Arne Slot and his players staring at themselves, searching for answers. And in the middle of all the post-match noise, one name kept coming up: Conor Bradley. The young full-back, who had been trusted to start in this huge Premier League clash, endured one of the toughest nights of his Liverpool career. He was exposed, outmuscled, and beaten every single time he went into a ground duel. Not once, not twice — but every single one. He lost 100% of his challenges, and the statistics did not lie.
This was not the Bradley Liverpool fans had been praising for months. This was not the player who had stepped into the first team with courage and sharpness. Instead, this was a player overwhelmed by the pace and power of Crystal Palace’s attack. Ismaila Sarr ran at him like a man possessed, Tyrick Mitchell overlapped with menace, and Yeremy Pino found joy on that wing. Bradley simply could not cope. Every time he stepped forward to engage, he was beaten. Every time he tried to hold position, he was dragged out of shape. It was the nightmare every young defender fears, and it played out live for the world to see.
Many fans could not believe Arne Slot allowed it to go on for as long as it did. By half-time, the evidence was clear: Bradley was drowning. He looked short of confidence, short of ideas, and completely targeted by Palace. The boos and groans from Liverpool’s away section grew louder every time Palace broke down his flank. But still, he stayed on the pitch until the break. Only then did Slot decide enough was enough. By then, Palace had already inflicted serious damage.
The argument that quickly followed the game was not just about Bradley’s poor form on the night. It was about Slot’s decision-making. Why wait until the break? Why not make the change earlier? Liverpool had options on the bench. They had Jeremie Frimpong, a man built for these battles, waiting and watching. Yet the switch did not come until Palace already had control of the game. For many supporters and pundits, it was a managerial mistake, one that allowed the young defender to suffer in the spotlight while the team paid the price.
It wasn’t just the duels he lost. It was the knock-on effect. Every time Bradley was beaten, Liverpool’s defensive shape was torn apart. Ibrahima Konaté, already struggling on the night, had to cover wide areas. That left gaps in the centre, spaces that Jean-Philippe Mateta nearly exploited. Ryan Gravenberch, pushed deeper to help, left midfield exposed. It was a chain reaction caused by a weak link, and Palace smelled blood.
The irony is that Conor Bradley is no ordinary youngster. He has shown, in games gone by, that he can rise to big occasions. He is fearless, energetic, and usually strong in the tackle. He burst into Liverpool’s squad because of his ability to fight in these moments. But football is cruel. One bad day, one opponent who exposes your weaknesses, and suddenly all that credit disappears. That was Bradley’s fate at Selhurst Park.
Critics, like Michael Owen and other pundits, pointed straight to him after the game. “He shouldn’t have stayed on the pitch that long,” one analyst said. “When you lose every ground duel, when you’re giving nothing defensively, the manager has to act quicker.” It was harsh, but it was also true. Palace had a clear game plan: attack Liverpool down the right, isolate Bradley, and reap the rewards. And they did.
What makes this worse is that Liverpool came into this game wounded. Giovanni Leoni’s injury had already stripped them of depth in defence. Slot had to make tough calls, but he chose Bradley over more experienced options. It was a gamble, and like many gambles in football, it backfired. Had Bradley been taken off earlier, perhaps Liverpool could have stabilised. Perhaps Alisson’s heroics would have been enough to hold Palace. Instead, Palace sensed weakness, kept going, and found the winner late on.
Supporters debated furiously online after the game. Some defended the youngster, reminding everyone that he is still learning and that nights like this are part of his development. “Don’t crucify him,” one fan wrote. “He’s a kid playing away at Selhurst Park against top attackers. He will bounce back.” Others, though, were less forgiving. “We can’t carry passengers in games like this,” came another angry response. “If Slot wants to win the league, he can’t keep faith in players who are being destroyed on the pitch.”
Bradley himself walked off the pitch with his head bowed. He didn’t need anyone to tell him the stats. He knew. Players always know. Losing every duel is not just a number; it’s a feeling that eats at you, that stays with you for days. He had wanted this to be his moment to shine, his chance to prove he belongs at the very top. Instead, it was a lesson in the harshest way.
The defeat itself had bigger consequences than just one player’s struggles. It ended Liverpool’s unbeaten run, handed Palace the bragging rights, and shifted momentum in the Premier League. Palace are now the only undefeated side, while Liverpool suddenly look fragile. Teams across the league will have taken note. They will have seen Bradley’s struggles, Konaté’s weakness, and Liverpool’s lack of defensive depth. They will plan to exploit it too.
Arne Slot was asked about Bradley after the game, but he chose his words carefully. “It was a difficult game for him,” he admitted. “Palace attacked strongly down that side. We tried to adjust at half-time.” It was a diplomatic answer, but the subtext was clear: Bradley had not been good enough, and Slot knew it. The bigger question is whether Slot trusts him again in upcoming fixtures. With Champions League football around the corner, can Liverpool risk another meltdown in defence?
This story is not just about one bad night. It is about the brutal reality of elite football. One weak performance, one poor showing, and the criticism rains down. Conor Bradley now has to show what he is made of. Does he crumble under the weight of criticism, or does he rise, learn, and return stronger? That is the test ahead of him.
For now, though, the fans will not forget. They will remember how Palace targeted his side, how every duel ended in defeat, and how Liverpool suffered because of it. In the history books, this game will be remembered as the one that ended Liverpool’s unbeaten run. But for Bradley, it may always be remembered as the night he lost everything — not just ground duels, but confidence, trust, and the faith of many.
And football is cruel enough to make you prove yourself again and again. For Conor Bradley, that day must come soon. Because in Liverpool colours, there is no hiding.
