A rare break down the right side, a cross shot from Federico Valverde and there he was at the far post drifting off Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shoulder to score. The young Brazilian, Vinicius Junior. It was impossible to say that Liverpool, and Alexander-Arnold in particular, had not been warned.
Vinicius had troubled the Liverpool right-back before, when Real knocked Liverpool out of this competition last season. Since then, he has got better. Against Manchester City in the semi-final, he had been terrific.
Alexander-Arnold had been asked about his immediate opponent in the run up to the game and had replied by saying Liverpool would defend as a team.