How Twitter reacted to Steven Gerrard’s painful Anfield farewell
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After the intensity of the most drawn out farewell in sports was dialled up this past week, Steven Gerrard would have yearned for kickoff in his final Anfield appearance as a Liverpool player, if only so that he could stop talking about it.
By the time the final whistle was blown, Crystal Palace must have had the former England midfielder scrambling around for a time machine, so he could go back and try and finish the way he’d planned: on a high.
Alan Pardew’s side finished as 3-1 victors over Brendan Rodgers’ out-of-sorts side, reminding the Kop that this was in fact a top-flight fixture and not an exhibition.
As Gerrard’s dream of a goal-scoring send off ebbed away, Twitter reacted in customarily sarcastic fashion:
Before the chain-yanking, though, Gerrard received a heroes entrance. With the players from both clubs giving him a guard of honour:
Guard of honour for Steven Gerrard – bit more pleasant than the last one he was involved in. pic.twitter.com/olNT3lnyly
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) May 16, 2015
Anfield was a wall-to-wall tribute board to their great captain:
The home fans saying a spectacular farewell to Gerrard. Extremely emotional moment. #YNWA #LFC #BPLonNBC pic.twitter.com/O1gSEj6yRQ
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) May 16, 2015
Old habits, die hard:
One last time. https://t.co/QWtaNi0q1U
— KICKTV (@KICKTV) May 16, 2015
As all around him felt the emotion, somehow the man himself held it together:
Crikey. This is rather emotive. Lovely send-off for one of the game’s greats.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 16, 2015
As you’d expect, though, the away fans were keen to have their say:
Crystal Palace fans not taking all the adulation lying down. Chants of “Have You Ever Seen Gerrard Win The League?”
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) May 16, 2015
Current and former teammates flooded Twitter with their support:
Crystal Palace fans not taking all the adulation lying down. Chants of “Have You Ever Seen Gerrard Win The League?”
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) May 16, 2015
Thank you, legend for all you made me live in Anfield and for all the joy you have given to the football world…. (1/2)
— Luis Suarez (@LuisSuarez9) May 16, 2015
Thank you my friend for everything. You are truly one of the greatest! (2/2) pic.twitter.com/SSAz1A8x1T
— Luis Suarez (@LuisSuarez9) May 16, 2015
The greatest player to ever wear a Liverpool shirt. Wish I was there to share his last moments and… https://t.co/d91gPns1KW
— Daniel Sturridge (@D_Sturridge) May 16, 2015
An absolute pleasure watching you playing & even more play alongside you.Thanks for everything captain #ThanksStevie pic.twitter.com/5pFYU8wl4c
— Fernando Torres (@Torres) May 16, 2015
The Liverpool skipper tried, in vain, to rescue something for his side, but found his shooting radar had gone awry:
Gerrard smashes a shot way over. “What the f****** hell was that?” asks the Kop. Thumbs-up from Gerrard. #lfc
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) May 16, 2015
By the end, even Gerrard knew it was time to go:
Gerrard on sky: “I don’t think I’ll come back on loan after today’s performance”
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) May 16, 2015
But still expressed his sadness at the end of an era:
Gerrard speech: “I’m going to miss it so much. I’m absolutely devastated I’m never going to play in front of these supporters again.”
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) May 16, 2015
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