Geronimo! Liverpool parachute into Paris for the Champions League final after riding their luck – The Warm-Up

WEDNESDAY’S BIG STORIES Liverpool ride their luck Ad/> Geronimo! A shout given by paratroopers as they jump into battle, and also an exclamation expressing exhilaration, especially when jumping from a great height (thanks, Collins dictionary). TransfersBorussia Dortmund lead chase for United and Liverpool target Adeyemi — Paper Round3 HOURS AGO It’s also what Geronimo Rulli (probably) shouted as he catapulted himself towards a pretty famously quick Sadio Mane. Already at fault for Liverpool’s first two goals, Villarreal’s goalkeeper rushed out to try to beat the Senegalese to the ball – it ended exactly as you’d expect.

You could say that for the whole match, too. It ended how you expected, a Liverpool win, a third Champions League final in five years confirmed, but it played out in a manner few saw coming. In the first half Liverpool were quite simply terrible.

Naby Keita may be lucky to start again this season, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson can count themselves lucky they had another 45 minutes to outline their importance to this side, for their defensive frailties turned it into the contest it never should have been. However, it could serve them well, that first half, and though it is one they can ill-afford to repeat, it is one they can contemplate in the weeks to come – play like that again, and the quadruple dream is over. And as much as Rulli was to blame, with his inability to stop shots directly at him, Liverpool also had Luis Diaz to thank, this footballer who has all but sealed his status as the signing of the season despite only joining halfway through.