Gerrard thanked Liverpool fans for all of their support over the years
17 years on from his first Anfield appearance, Steven Gerrard walked off the pitch on Saturday after making his last. It was a downbeat occasion following a dismal display, once again, from his team mates but it allowed Gerrard to receive a fitting send off at the final whistle.
The match marked Gerrard’s 709th Liverpool appearance, seeing him stay firmly in third place in Liverpool’s all-time appearances list, behind Jamie Carragher and Ian Callaghan. Gerrard will make his final, and 710th, appearance against Stoke next Sunday, no doubt.
Speaking following the match, Gerrard told Liverpoolfc.com: “I’ve been preparing myself for five months for this and I’m trying my best to hold it together.
“What the fans have done for me today, added to the 17 years, I’ve ran out of words to describe them.
“My heart is pumping now just like it did the very first time I ran out. I love this football club – I love the players and the staff.
“I’ve loved every minute of it; it has gone so quick and I’m absolutely devastated that I’m not going to be back here with a football kit on. I can’t thank them enough.”
Despite a packed out Anfield (with some fans reportedly paying as much as £1000 for a ticket), Liverpool failed to get a foothold in the match at any point, finally succumbing mid-way through the second half to Crystal Palace for the second time this season.
But, despite failing to make much of an impact on what was largely an awful performance from the whole team, Gerrard will have no concerns about tarnishing his legend at Liverpool and will hope to go out on one, final high next Sunday.
i think liverpool should buy all these quality players next summer