It was close to 2am when Jordan Henderson made his way out of Al Bayt Stadium and had a hand on Jude Bellingham’s shoulder, like a chaperone.
Henderson was roaring with laughter and had made it his business to get his young sidekick out of the firing line.
A few seconds earlier, the pair had been stopped by a European TV channel and Liverpool’s captain had been asked to give an appraisal of Bellingham.
‘He is a one-off and we have just got to let him keep enjoying his football,’ said Henderson.