With 54 minutes gone at the London Stadium Trent Alexander-Arnold took a pass from Ryan Gravenberch with time to wait and look up, the lack of pressure from the West Ham players almost a public snub, before spanking a deflected shot past Alphonse Areola to make it 4-0 to Liverpool and kill off once again a game that was already long since dead.
In the process Alexander-Arnold did at least provide a moment of cartoon drama, performing a slightly embarrassed silencing-the-chatter celebration, one hand raised to his ear. Perhaps this was a reference to stories overnight about a move to Real Madrid, something parts of the Spanish media have suggested is all but formalised.
More Stories
Power shift with Pasifika edge brings Super Rugby back to life
NFL roundup: Bills give Allen reported $330m extension as Steelers trade for DK Metcalf
Henley overhauls Morikawa with late eagle to win Arnold Palmer Invitational