After seventeen years, Steven Gerrard has bid farewell to Anfield. The Reds captain played his last game at home in front of his home crowd. Liverpool lost 3-1 to Crystal Palace, but for once a win was not what the fans had come to see.
Despite the defeat, the game will go down in Liverpool history, not least thanks to the beautiful tribute that the club and fans paid to their player.
The midfielder walked down the corridor that led out onto the pitch for the last time, walking down the steps and touching the 'This is Anfield' sign, there to remind all that this isn't any old ground, for the last time. Anfield, his home, his people, gave him an emotional send-off like no other.
The game itself mattered little. Those that had paid at the turnstiles to enter were there to bid farewell to their captain and thank him for 17 years of service. Crystal Palace and Zaha dampened the festivities somewhat.
Liverpool's Lallana opened up the scoring but was soon to be equalled by Puncheon from a free kick just before the break. In the second half, Zaha made it 2-1 for Palace from an offside position and then went on to be awarded a penalty, even though he had been fouled outside the box. Murray was lucky enough to get on the end of the rebound and make it 3-1.
The result didn't mar the farewell event, although 'Stevie' perhaps deserved to be sent on his way with a victory for The Reds. But that's football, as he himself well knows. The captain himself played the same hardworking, intense game as always, pressing hard and giving his all for the Liverpool cause.
When the referee blew the final whistle, Anfield stood up in applause, while Gerrard's teammates all rallied round to give him a hug and a pat on the back. With each hug, another tear from the Liverpool veteran. With each pat on the back, the captain was surely remembering the more than 500 games he has played for his club.
Not a man comfortable with long, drawn-out farewells, Gerrard wanted to make his way to the dressing room as soon as he could. But Anfield had other plans. Nobody got up to leave the stadium. Nobody wanted this to be any old farewell. It was a goodbye to the team's captain and the fans wanted to show how important he was to them.
So they stood, their scarves held high, flags waving, letting him know that he may be leaving, but that they would be forever grateful, that he would never walk alone.
