More poignantly, this match marks the end of an era. Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Scouser whose right foot has defined a generation of attacking full-backs, will play his final game in red before his contract expires. He was met with boos after confirming his departure, but the Anfield faithful may yet offer a more fitting farewell on Sunday.

Having burst into the box and initially attempted a lobbed effort over Bernd Leno, the German goalkeeper’s save only fell in the direction of Ilkay Gundogan, who reacted instinctively to execute an ov...

The defeat saw Villa finish sixth in the Premier League table, missing out on next season’s UEFA Champions League, a setback with major financial implications.