Trent Alexander-Arnold

So often Liverpool's local hero is their match winner but tonight was a cruel ending to a fine season for the youngster and his side.

It will be a small crumb of comfort to the man himself now, but if you were to ask Klopp or anyone in Liverpool red whether they would be prepared to accept one mistake at the back for what Alexander-Arnold usually delivers for them at the other end of the pitch, they would not hesitate in saying yes. The first half was a relentless whirlwind of energy in the midfield and rapid movement and positional interchanging at the point of attack. On most nights Alexander-Arnold could have been Liverpool's match winner; a better run from Diogo Jota 10 minutes after Madrid's opener and he would have been nodding in a cross at the back post. A defender that lacks his athleticism might not have been able to stop that pass. A different defender would not have laid on three shooting chances for his teammates or ended the game with 0.21 expected assists, the most on his team and a better tally than Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Vinicius and Valverde combined. Had it come a split second later Vinicius might well have been offside; there was good fortune to go with the quality that won the match.

Trent Alexander-Arnold vowed Liverpool will return next season and lift more silverware as the club celebrated an FA Cup and Carabao Cup double.

It’s crazy. “It’s unbelievable. You can never get used to winning trophies.

It was a cruel night for Trent Alexander-Arnold as Liverpools brilliant creative full-back paid for one defensive lapse in the Champions League final that ...

Only by repeatedly impressing in that aspect, delivering the sort of performance that he provided in the FA Cup final, will that opinion change. Alexander-Arnold was back there for that and when Konate glanced right he would have been entitled to believe that his team-mate had the situation under control. But that does not explain the key moment in the game. "As for Vinicius himself, he is an outstanding player and he has shown that this season, especially, with his goals, his assists and his threat. He is part of the back four, but he is a playmaker, primarily. That verdict may seem harsh, but it is the inevitable conclusion after a Champions League final decided by one goal, one moment.