Liverpool's seven-match winning run came to an end as they narrowly avoided defeat to European rivals Aston Villa.
Roberto Firmino marked his Anfield farewell with one final parting gift for the adoring L4 faithful as he cancelled out Jacob Ramsey's first-half volley.
Their Champions League hopes are all but gone as Manchester United bridged the gap to three points after edging past Bournemouth after a solitary goal from Casemiro. Liverpool have already secured Europa League football as an aspect of European football will be played on Merseyside next year but their quest for a seventh honour in the elite competition remains on hold.
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Liverpool go into the final game of the season against already-relegated Southampton looking to finish strong ahead of, what is set to be, a busy summer in the transfer window.
And here is what the national media thought of the performance from Jurgen Klopp's side, along with our own Paul Gorst.
Andy Hunter of the Guardian wrote:
A fairytale ending for Roberto Firmino did not include one for Liverpool. The brilliant Brazilian said farewell to Anfield with a 90th-minute equaliser but in the 10 minutes of stoppage time that followed Liverpool were unable to conjure the comeback needed to keep their Champions League dream alive. The Europa League beckons and deservedly so, according to Jürgen Klopp.
A point that keeps Villa on course for a remarkable sixth or seventh place finish – considering where they languished when Unai Emery took over in October – carried more weight for Newcastle and Manchester United than Liverpool. Both would have qualified for the Champions League but for the 110th goal of Firmino’s glorious Liverpool career. Instead, both need a point from their final two games to secure a top-four finish. Liverpool’s prospects are effectively over after a storming run of seven successive Premier League wins was halted by Emery’s improving side.
Villa deservedly led at half-time through Jacob Ramsey’s volley, struck minutes after Ollie Watkins had missed from the penalty spot, but the second half was a different story as Liverpool finally hit their rhythm. Referee John Brooks disallowed a Cody Gakpo goal for a debatable offside before Firmino sparked pandemonium with his leveller.
Shamoon Hafez of the BBC wrote:
Roberto Firmino scored an 89th-minute equaliser against Aston Villa to keep alive Liverpool's faint hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp's side are three points behind Newcastle United and Manchester United with one game remaining, meaning their two rivals need just one point from their final two games to secure Champions League qualification for next season.
The fact it remains mathematically possible, if perhaps unlikely, is down to the departing Firmino sneaking in at the near post to convert Mohamed Salah's low cross.
It was tough to take for the visitors, who were so close to claiming a notable win after an impressive display.
They had a golden opportunity to lead midway through the first half when Ibrahima Konate tripped Ollie Watkins in the box, but the striker sent his penalty wide.
Richard Jolly of the Independent wrote:
For Roberto Firmino, an Anfield farewell included a presentation by Sir Kenny Dalglish and a guard of honour from his teammates, with Cody Gakpo bowing in salute to Liverpool’s definitive false nine. Anfield sang his song – “Si Senor” – for one last time; or, at least, a final occasion with Firmino in the team, on the pitch at home. Even as fine a servant as James Milner also said goodbye, he was overshadowed by Firmino, which the self-effacing Yorkshireman may prefer.
But, even at the end, Firmino offered more evidence to illustrate why he is among the most popular Liverpool players of his generation; perhaps of any. This was not the perfect goodbye; not without victory, not as Liverpool’s last ambition for a dispiriting season became still more remote. But there was a perfection of sorts for Firmino; the rousing ovation when he came on was far from the loudest of the afternoon, because Liverpool still had a last goal from him to celebrate.
Firmino’s indefatigable approach is a reason why he was indispensable and integral. If there was no such thing as a lost cause for him, he ensured he did not finish off with a defeat. Aston Villa were leading at Anfield, and deservedly so. But Firmino and Milner entered with 20 minutes to go – though Villa’s timewasting meant their cameos lasted for half an hour – and as injury time beckoned, as it seemed Liverpool’s band of Champions League winners would see their faint hopes of a top-four finish disappear altogether, the former had one last service to perform.
David Maddock of the Mirror wrote:
It took a VAR review and Brooks’ own trek over to the monitor to determine the visiting centre half didn’t mean a touch, which was directed back to the Liverpool player - which is stunningly bizarre, because what the hell was he doing on the pitch if he didn’t want to intervene in that critical situation?
Klopp was visibly perplexed. We could see the whites of his eyes as he looked at a monitor of his own just a few yards away at the back of the stand, and they turned a murderous shade of darkness.
Was this payback for the questioning of officials - Brooks included - which earned the manager his touchline ban and a 75 grand fine, or just coincidence?
Liverpool ECHO's Paul Gorst wrote:
On a sun-drenched Anfield afternoon, Liverpool's Champions League dream all but ended. And while it wasn't really how the script was supposed to play out, it just had to be Roberto Firmino who at least saved the day.
What was supposed to be a suitable prelude to the roaring send-off that Firmino, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain so richly deserve, fell flat as Jurgen Klopp's side were held to a 1-1 draw in the penultimate game of a difficult campaign that will now only return them Europa League football, barring a shock collapse from either Manchester United or Newcastle. Both now need just one point from their final two games.
Instead, Aston Villa proved themselves to be the chief spoilers and Anfield was subjected to a day that was largely made up of frustration and angst. That was until the 89th minute, at least, when Firmino scored his 110th and likely final goal of a decorated, trophy-laden and memory-filled eight years on Merseyside. There won't be another like him, that is for sure.
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