Revive Liverpool

Chapter 325 The Imperfect Ending
The game between Liverpool and Crystal Palace is about to start.

An ordinary Premier League game has attracted the attention of the world for no other reason than that it was Steven Gerrard's final performance at Anfield.

Today, Anfield is really full, fans came from all over the world to see off the greatest star in Liverpool history.

Before the opening game, Gerrard, who was wearing the captain's armband, appeared in the player channel as usual. On the contrary, it was Henderson, Gerrard's designated successor, who led the Liverpool starters to the front, but he did not wear the captain's armband today.

When Liverpool's 10 players and the opponent Crystal Palace's 11 starters came on the field, they lined up in front of the player tunnel to form two teams.

This formation is like the team lining up to welcome the team that won the Premier League championship in advance.

It's just that today's battles are just to welcome a man - Gerrard.

Not long after, Gerrard finally appeared!
At the end of the player tunnel, Gerrard's figure finally appeared. He was wearing the captain's armband of Liverpool, holding hands and hugging his three daughters.

At this moment, the entire Anfield stadium was completely boiling, and I saw Gerrard slowly walking out of the player tunnel with his three daughters.

Players from Liverpool and Crystal Palace who lined up on both sides applauded him together, paying tribute to the legend of the Premier League and Liverpool.

This scene, it is hard not to move people, shed tears.

This is respect for Gerrard's entire career at Liverpool, and respect for such a legendary figure in the Premier League.

Subsequently, Gerrard took his three beloved daughters to the center of the stadium, paying tribute to the tens of thousands of fans at Anfield.

At this time, Liverpool's team song "You Never Walk Alone" sounded again, paying tribute to Gerrard.

There wasn't much ceremony, and Gerrard's retirement ceremony was saved for after the game, so the game started soon.

It was his 354th time playing in front of the home KOP.

If this game follows the script, the best ending is that Liverpool won the game with Gerrard's lore at the last moment of the game.

But the reality is:
In the 26th minute, everything was still going according to the script.

Liverpool took the lead to break the deadlock. Martin Kelly made a mistake in the backcourt pass. After stealing, Lallana broke into the penalty area on the right side and faced Hennesse.

Lallana scored his 6th goal of the season. After scoring, he ran and embraced today's protagonist, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

Everything seems to be going according to the script it's supposed to go, but then things don't go as planned and accidents start happening.

At the end of the first half, in the 43rd minute, Crystal Palace equalized the score.

Emre Can brought down Bolasie for a foul in the front of the penalty area. The referee decisively showed him his first yellow card of the game and awarded a free kick.

Poncheyon's free kick from the top of the arc in the penalty area flew into the right side of the goal. Liverpool goalkeeper Keylor Navas had almost no reaction, one to one.

The two sides returned to the same starting line. After 1 minute of stoppage time, the game entered the intermission, and the two teams temporarily fought to a one-to-one tie.

If maliciousness is just that, then it is definitely not malicious.

In the 60th minute, Crystal Palace overtook the score. After a cross pass from the right side of the BoLS penalty area was refracted, Zaha near the far post scored with the first touch of the ball. Liverpool fell behind by one to two.

And bad things happen one after another.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Liverpool had a little hope of getting a draw, although it was of little significance to the championship.

But this hope was shattered by Crystal Palace. Henderson tripped Zaha outside the penalty area, but the referee pointed to 12 yards. Murray took a penalty kick and was saved by Navas, but then Murray made a supplementary shot and Liverpool fell behind [-]-[-].

At the end of the game, Liverpool was reversed by Crystal Palace with three goals. In Gerrard's retirement game, Liverpool did not win.

As for Crystal Palace, which smashed Gerrard's field, they also avoided relegation again by defeating Liverpool.

Crystal Palace has been Liverpool's pain in the past few seasons.

When Liverpool competed for the championship last season, Liverpool faced Crystal Palace away and led by three goals before being tied in the end.

This made Liverpool's championship win last season delayed again and again.

Although it has nothing to do with the overall situation, it is also disgusting to people.

After the game, Gerrard's retirement ceremony will also begin.

Although Liverpool lost this game, the Liverpool fans did not leave.

The stadium at Anfield is still crowded.

Tens of thousands of Liverpool fans stayed on for a long time, holding up the slogan "Gerrard, Legend" and singing the team anthem "Never Walk Alone".

The whole team put on a brand new home jersey for next season provided by Nike, and everyone's jersey is not printed with their own name and number on the back, but only Gerrard and his No. 8.

Whenever the team releases a new jersey, he will always be the most conspicuous one in the jersey poster.

And now, for the first and last time, the promotional jersey for the new season is without him, and without the No. 8, which can't help but be sentimental.

Of course, such a move is also very popular with Nike.

In Liverpool, Gerrard jersey sales are much higher than other players.

Gerrard retired next season. Although Nike can still launch Gerrard's commemorative jersey every new season, a large part of the commercial interest is still gone.

Now that Gerrard is about to leave, this last chance to make money cannot be given up.

And it's not just bad money, it's just feelings.

Of course, the club must have made as much money from it as Nike.

The retirement ceremony begins.

Gerrard held a microphone and bid farewell to more than 4 fans. On the Anfield stadium, Gerrard's flag fluttered in the wind, and various patterns and symbols commemorated him.

It was a scene that brought tears to my eyes, but it's just so hard to see again.

Gerrard held back the tears in his eyes: "It feels so strange. I have been dreading this day. I will never be able to play at Anfield again. Thank you for your support and encouragement over the years. Before I burst into tears, let me say: I have seen fans elsewhere, and you are the best."

Today's game Liverpool is a bit disappointing.

In this Gerrard's last battle in Liverpool, Liverpool did not win.

Such an ending is really unsatisfactory.

But it is also understandable, after all, Liverpool has just finished the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, and it is understandable for the players to have ups and downs.

Moreover, many of Liverpool's players in this game were not starters, but were handed over to substitute players.

(End of this chapter)