Real Madrid's winger Vinicius Junior's warning to Klopp on Thursday, May 26, to put up his best team ahead of the Champions League has come to haunt Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool's 0-1 loss to Real Madrid.
The single defining goal by the Brazillian in the 59th minute made Los Blancos not only scoop the Champions League title but also prove they are the kings of European football once again.
Vinicius Junior's wish to see the full-strength Liverpool in Saturday’s May 28 Champions League final was a disclaimer of a tough match ahead for the Reds.
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Real Madrid's win makes it their 14th win after the first consecutive season of the UEFA Champions League from 1956 to 1960 then later in 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and now 2022.
Jurgen Klopp's side was keen on avenging their 2018 Champions League final defeat to the Spanish giants in Kyiv but they could not find a leveller when Vinicius ghosted in at the far post to convert Federico Valverde's assist.
The Reds dominated the majority of the first half but were unable to make their pressure count in the second half of the match.
The game's kick-off time had been delayed by more than half an hour owing to logistical challenges outside the Stade de France. The delay caused dangerous overcrowding as Liverpool fans attempted to find their way into the stadium.
UEFA blamed delays on the late arrival of fans but the long queues had been building for hours.
Liverpool had 24 shots which were the most on record since 2003/04 without scoring for a team in a Champions League final.
Mohamed Salah's six shots on target are the most on record by any player in a single Champions League final.
Los Blancos manager Carlos Ancelotti became the first manager to win four Champions League titles with two seasons in AC Milan and the other two in the Spanish side.
For Liverpool, their focus is now set on leveraging their team's potential for the next season of the English Premier League and hope to lift the EPL title cup for the 2022/23 season.