Before the Thuis fans hired Alexander-Arnold, it would all have been pretty nice.
There was a bit of Jeers for the soon in Galactico when his name was read at the kick-off, but from there until the introduction of Alexander-Arnold at minute 66, this day was more about appreciating the next in the row instead of lamping the departing star.
Enough has been said about his approaching exit – and it has reached saturation point. But we should not overlook Future Red Star Conor Bradley.
If he had been completely fit, Bradley would have played the full 90 minutes here. No doubt possible. But the Northern Ireland International beat fourteen days ago, so it was only about an hour to play and forced manager Arne Slot in the uncomfortable decision to introduce Alexander-Arnold.
Then the party became sour.
For that, however, Bradley had a golden chance to prove whether he is ready to take the reins of Alexander-Arnold. Did he know his chance? Absolute.
Not that he had to do this. He would not only be assessed on this version, but it certainly helped that he placed a cunning half display in the first half.
The 21-year-old set the tone for only 46 seconds in the game when he made a crispy tackle on Gabriel Martinelli.
The heading responded by singing his name, some recognition, given that he played on loan at Bolton two years ago in League.
Yet this is now a reality for the boy from Castlernerner, County Tyrone. He can now be the most important man, even if he notes that Liverpool will pursue a new back to compete for the regular starting place.
It would be foolish not to do that, since Bradley is only 21 and has fitness problems. He can't play every game even if he was the 'Castlerner Cafu'.
But Slot has compared Bradley with Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain and says that he will come over his muscular problems with consistent minutes. Hakimi may not be an understanding, but the comparison is a big compliment.
The positions that Bradley took in this match were also interesting and often played higher than anyone else, apart from the front three, who appeared in bags next to Mo Salah. On another day he may have had an assist.
His running style reminds Mail Sport of a chat with the man who discovered a young Bradley in the youth scene of Noord -Ierland, Joe Mcaree last year.
He said: 'This boy can come from box to box like a reindeer … a huge endurance, he can fit in places that you would not know where you would know.
'From the first day I met him in a cafe, he looked at me and smiled, it just felt different. For an 11-year-old boy it was just different, the focus he had. He knew what he wanted to be. '
There is no doubt that Bradley wants to create a print in the team in a similar vein such as the large full duo of Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.
So forget, if you can, thrown the anger to Alexander-Arnold … This is Bradley's time to shine.