Liverpool's injury myth exposed
It was a subplot that wasn't heavily picked up on, pre-match, but Liverpool went into this game with as many as six first-team players absent through injury.
The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, captain Jordan Henderson and Joel Matip made up 50 per cent of that half-dozen and all three would have had a significant part to play here at Wembley.
It was one of the fallacies of last season that Liverpool breezed to the title by having all the luck on their side with regards to injury set-backs.
Fabinho, Alisson Becker and Naby Keita - players whose combined value totals over £150m - were all absent for over 10 games each, while there were significant lay-offs for Dejan Lovren and Xherdan Shaqiri.
Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah also missed games en route to the title, while Jordan Henderson sat out the last four with a season-ending knee problem.
The idea that Liverpool avoided injuries was a mythical narrative peddled by their detractors.
This time around, in the Reds' first game of the campaign, Jurgen Klopp was forced to plug a number of holes with square pegs.
Joe Gomez and Fabinho both finished the game outside of their natural habitat as Klopp rolled the dice to try and get his team back into it.
And while the likes of Shaqiri and Divock Origi were always unlikely to start this one had they been fit, their respective absences left Klopp hamstrung to an extent as Liverpool chased the game.
Klopp traditionally prefers his numbers trim but missing six first-team players eventually bit.
Liverpool will have a more familiar look to their style when they return.
Fabinho experiment must end
A penny for Fabinho's thoughts on the hour mark at Wembley?
After two seasons at Anfield, the Brazilian has furthered his reputation as one of the best holding midfielders in European football today.
Undoubtedly one of the finest in the Premier League, Liverpool look a more fluid operation when he is in his rightful role, snapping into challenges and using the ball intelligently.
So being asked to play as an emergency centre-back is probably not on the player's wish-list. Nor should it be.
Do you think Jurgen Klopp needs to sign a centre-back this summer? Let us know in the comments section...
Fabinho has played there before for the Reds, most notably in a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich at Anfield last year, but seeing him shunted from his preferred role will be enough to make supporters wince in the coming weeks and months.
With Joel Matip injured and Dejan Lovren in Russia with Zenit St Petersburg, Fabinho was thrust into the position alongside Virgil van Dijk due to a lack of senior centre-backs in the squad right now.
Needs must, no question, but it is a situation that should not be allowed to happen too often this coming campaign.
Listen to the Post-Game podcast from Blood Red HERE
If Klopp is unwilling to place his faith in the untried youth in his defensive ranks, then a fourth-choice centre-half must be sourced in the transfer market before the new campaign gets underway.
Positive signs for Minamino
Perhaps the big positive from Liverpool's day out at Wembley was the performance of Takumi Minamino.
See how Ian Doyle rated Takumi Minamino and the rest of the Liverpool side rated against Arsenal in the Community Shield HERE
The Japan international has not had the easiest adaptation period at Anfield.
Joining a relentless Reds set-up midway through a season made it difficult for him to get up to the same intensity levels of a team who had the bit firmly between their teeth in pursuit of league title No.19.
The nimble attacker was forced to settle for bit-part cameos and appearances in cup competitions as he tried to stake his own claims.
The suspension of Premier League football for over three months also stunted his progress.
Off the bench at around the hour mark here, the former Red Bull Salzburg forward was lively and inventive.
Taking his goal well, his smart finish when one-versus-one with Emi Martinez hinted at an additional goal threat for Liverpool this coming campaign.
"A goal was the only thing that he has missed so far and today, it was finally there," Klopp said of Minamino's contribution.
With the same pre-season schedule under his belt as his team-mates, Liverpool can perhaps expect to have another string to their bow with regards to Minamino going forward.
Take our LFC transfer survey and let us know what you think the Reds need this summer HERE
