There was a split second of hope as the ball soared through the Wembley air and into the Newcastle United box, arcing its way towards a red shirt.
A momentary intake of breath and then around 40,000 infuriated eye rolls or scoffs from the Liverpool end as the attack was snuffed out by an awkward, clunky first touch. It was far from the nadir of Darwin Nunez’s painful week, but it was a moment that perhaps summed Liverpool up in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
The Uruguayan was far from the biggest culprit in Sunday’s bleak 2-1 loss against Newcastle. Mohamed Salah, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch all had days to forget as Liverpool were bullied for 90 minutes by a more motivated, more passionate and more physical opponent. It might be simplistic, but Newcastle simply wanted it more.
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Liverpool has been brilliant this season and despite what could feel like an anticlimactic end to the campaign, it will be a positive first year under Arne Slot - assuming the Reds do hold on to claim the Premier League title. But over recent weeks a few minor fragilities have emerged that underline where the side needs to strengthen this summer.
Up front is an obvious one and that’s not just based on the cup final, but also Nunez’s confidence-sapping miss from the spot on Tuesday, the sitter blazed over at Villa Park last month and then subsequent criticism from his manager. And that’s before simply looking at his goal output this term. Seven in 40 appearances simply doesn’t cut it.
There’s an irony that at the other end, when the ball dropped to Alexander Isak - a reported transfer target for Liverpool - he fired it into the net. What Slot would give to have the Swede in his ranks next term.
That’s not just as a Nunez replacement but also an option ahead of Diogo Jota. The Portugal international remains Slot’s preference up top, but his lack of physicality is beginning to cause issues. That was the case in Paris two weeks ago - ironically when Nunez’s more physical approach off the bench changed the game - while both Slot and Eddie Howe mentioned after Sunday’s final how Newcastle’s center-backs dominated in the air.
They also dictated from the middle at Wembley with the intimidating Joelinton and Sandro Tonali overpowering Liverpool, while Bruno Guimarares provided quality on the ball. Gravenberch and Mac Allister couldn’t cope, while Dominik Szoboszlai was shifted to the left wing in the second period in an effort to get him on the ball.
This coming two weeks on from PSG’s midfield control in the Champions League first leg is alarming and provides some insight into what Slot felt the team lacked when he pursued Martin Zubimendi last year. That could be addressed this summer, as could a new left-back after Andy Robertson once again struggled on Sunday.
On the opposite flank, Jarell Quansah made some positive contributions defensively but simply doesn’t offer the same attacking proficiency as first-choice Trent Alexander-Arnold in that position. His tentative crusade forward in the first half afforded Joelinton the chance to track back and regain possession (along with plenty of animated arm gestures towards the crowd from the Brazilian), while a moment when Quansah looked up and, rather than passing forward, laid the ball back to Ibrahima Konate was jarring.
Alexander-Arnold would have inevitably produced his trademark raking pass upfield, something that was lacking against Newcastle. Sunday was a reminder of, should he move on this summer, what Liverpool will lack without Trent Alexander-Arnold, and the need for effective cover for Conor Bradley.
Mohamed Salah is another who might have just made his final Wembley appearance for the club. He neither created a chance or managed a shot in a 90-minute game for the first time in his Liverpool career and, as has tended to be the case this season, a rare off day for the main man resulted in long periods of abject attacking moves.
Replacing his goal involvements could be the biggest challenge for Liverpool when the transfer market opens. Slot will hope that can be avoided with a new contract agreed.
As the end of the season approaches, the three contract sagas will again become more prominent on the Liverpool news agenda. The transfer market is coming into sharper focus and, despite all Slot’s success, there’s plenty of work to be done.
