This writer remembers Andre Santos sidling up to Robin Van Persie just before the half time to exchange jerseys. The former Arsenal striker had scored a goal for his new club after Santos wiggling his hips furiously had practically invited him over. It did not go down well with Arsenal fans. Today, Mario Balotelli, with another turgid performance as his side was getting stuffed by Real Madrid further enraged Liverpool fans by swapping jerseys with Pepe before the half. Not cool. But really if you had to, absolutely had to, why Pepe?

Why would Balotelli, an iconic figure in the effort to stamp out racism and who seems to attract its ugly nature wherever he goes, swap jerseys with Pepe? A player not just legendary for his many instances of outright thuggery on the pitch but also well known for allegedly inciting racial abuse against former Barca midfielder Seydou Keita.

Why give someone like Pepe any agency? But Balotelli and controversial head-scratchers go together. And Brendan Rodgers was not a happy man.

“It is not something I stand for,” Rodgers said.

“If you want to do that, do it at the end of the game. It is something I will deal with on Thursday.”