Roberto Firmino signed off his Anfield career in almost the perfect fashion with a late goal in Liverpool’s final home game of the season against Aston Villa.
Unfortunately, the Brazilian’s 110th strike for the club was only enough to earn the Reds a share of the spoils as they fought out a 1-1 draw, to all but end their slim hopes of finishing in the top four.
Regardless of the result, it was still an emotional day on the red half of Merseyside as Liverpool bid farewell to four club legends, with James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also all confirmed to be leaving the club at the end of their contracts this summer.
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All four were given guards of honour after the final whistle at Anfield, as they received special gifts from the club, before Liverpool’s entire playing squad embarked on a customary lap of honour.
And, with not a dry eye in the house, here’s what the ECHO spotted after the final whistle…
Firmino and Milner salute the Kop
Roberto Firmino and James Milner were always going to get the biggest send-off from the Anfield crowd, and, having both come on as substitutes against Aston Villa, wasted no time in saluting the Kop one last time after the final whistle.
Both the guards and laps of honour, both players took it in turns to walk up to Liverpool’s iconic stand, which was littered with banners honouring both, to pay special thanks for all their support during their eight years as Reds players.
Chants of ‘Si Senor’ and ‘There’s only one James Milner’ swiftly followed. And it was all too much for Firmino. As he promised on Friday, there were indeed tears, with compatriot Alisson Becker quickly over to embrace his team-mate.
New role for Andy Robertson
Andy Robertson was handed a new role during the guards of honour as he looked after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s little boy, Axel, prior to the midfielder being celebrated by fans and team-mates alike.
Once the England international emerged from the tunnel for his turn, he doubled back once he spotted where Robertson was to share a quick embrace with his son, before taking Axel from the Scot once his turn was up.
With Roberto Firmino the next player honoured, the entire guard of honour, along with Anfield, then burst into a rendition of ‘Si Senor’, setting the pace with thunderous applause. A delighted Axel could be seen enthusiastically clapping along, much to the amusement of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Robertson.
Firmino family occasion
It’s not just Roberto Firmino that is bidding farewell to Liverpool, it’s his entire family too. And they were all at Anfield on Saturday to say their goodbyes.
The Firmino family brought along their own ‘Legend’ flags to celebrate the forward and waved them aloft to the crowd. Meanwhile, they also held up the picture the Brazilian had been gifted by the club.
It would seem the Firmino family will miss Liverpool as much as Liverpool will miss them!
Salah Jr does it again
After every final home game of the season, all the players’ children quickly bring out the footballs to have a kickaround on the pitch and to try and score in front of the crowd.
Sure enough, a handful of the youngest youngsters wasted no time running to goal and scoring, earning cheers from the remaining problem. But there was one problem with their excited efforts, they were at the wrong end!
The Kop would still cheer from afar as youngster after youngster scored in front of the Anfield Road stand, but Mohamed Salah’s eldest daughter showed them all how it’s done!
A veteran of the last home game lap of honour, she knew exactly where she was going where she got her hands on a ball and ran to the Kop. Swiftly scoring, earning cheers in the process, she then encouraged her little sister to do the same. They have both clearly inherited their father’s finishing abilities!
Red card for Harvey!
While most of the Liverpool squad spent time with their partners and children, scoring goals at either end of the stadium, it was a different story for Harvey Elliott.
Having only turned 20 last month, the midfielder had a kickabout with his brother, who is a die-hard Liverpool fan himself, in the middle of the pitch. And it was as rough as you would expect from two siblings!
Elliott would send his brother flying with one two-footed sliding challenge, and kept trying to trip him up whenever he got on the ball. Meanwhile, when on the ball himself, he would show off his fanciest footwork as he repeatedly tried to nutmeg his sibling.
Boys will be boys, as they say. Still, Elliott’s deliberate x-rated tackles perhaps weren’t as bad as what we actually saw in-game from Tyrone Mings on Cody Gakpo!
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