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Two unpardonable Blunders from Goalkeeper Loris Karius, plus the deliberate injury inflicted on the African and BBC player of the year Mohammed Salah we're all the things needed by the much experienced Defending champions Real Madrid, to retain Europe's prestigious cup for a record 3rd time in Kiev on Saturday night.
These flopped Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's efforts in his career at winning at least one uefa champions league title.
Liverpool's night of disappointment in Kiev means they end the season empty-handed after the Champions League final loss to Real Madrid.
Indeed it was a painful night for Liverpool fc and their vociferous fans.
Very vociferous to Kiev after dismissing Manchester City and Roma on the road to Ukraine. Unfortunately victory was not to be.
Klopp had reconnected club to fans in a way that is uniquely important to Liverpool and he has given them a renewed relevance that comes with the appointment of one of football's most celebrated coaches. That wasn't all , he has produced a Liverpool team playing thrilling attacking football. And even in defeat they satisfied their fans.
The loss of 44-goal Mo Salah was a savage blow but Liverpool had enough heart to find an equaliser from the Senegalese striker Sadio Mane who kept his head before the combination of sublime and ridiculous from Gareth Bale saw them off.
Klopp has a devastating front three of Salah, Mane [magnificent in Kiev] and Roberto Firmino and he has gone some way towards solving Liverpool's defensive problems with the £75m signing of Virgil van Dijk.
When Liverpool lost to Sevilla there was work to do - the same applies after this bitter setback in Kiev but there is no doubt they have moved further down the road towards success.
Loris Karius made more errors leading to goals in the final against Real Madrid (two) than he had in his previous 32 competitive appearances for Liverpool
Klopp's work as Liverpool manager has almost put him beyond criticis. The defeat by Real Madrid brought into sharp focus his blind spot over the Reds' goalkeeper.
Klopp gave Loris Karius, the 24-year-old he brought from Mainz, his chance last season but he was unimpressive and uncertain and the German eventually had to bring back Simon Mignolet.
But Klopp made a strong point of making Karius his number one this season and sidelining Mignolet in the process.
Karius was also the beneficiary of the arrival of Van Dijk, who gave Liverpool an aerial penalty area presence that was missing before.
Karius has shown signs of improvement this season but has remained unconvincing, particularly in the two-leg semi-final win over Roma.
One wanders why he tossed the ball against Karim Benzema, who was hardly charging at him with deadly intent for Real's opening goal, only he will know. And his fumbling attempt to keep out Bale's speculative shot was equally embarrassing. He needed to party but which he failed to do and Liverpool paid dearly.
Loris Karius
Liverpool have shown this season that high ambition and the big prizes are not beyond them - and this is why Klopp must now acquire a high-class keeper.
RB Leipzig's Naby Keita will join Liverpool in July for £48m
Klopp will surely address the problem of a new goalkeeper - but there are other areas where Liverpool must strengthen.
The departure of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona increases the urgency for reinforcements.
Naby Keita is arriving from RB Leipzig and Klopp will cast his net around.
Klopp does not simply need a sprinkling of stardust, he must flesh out his squad.
