Thanks for the ... you are one
THERE has probably never been a more enthusiastic greeting for a substitution in Anfield history.
With 18 minutes remaining, the Kop got what they had demanded throughout a frustrating afternoon when Jurgen Klopp said ‘Si’ to Roberto Firmino, the greatest senhor ever to have graced this famous old stadium.
Within 60 seconds, he had crafted a chance for Trent Alexander-Arnold and the chorus began once more, an emotional appreciation of not just what Liverpool will be missing, but what he has brought to the great team Klopp has crafted.
What he did next was so typical of the Brazilian, an inspiring energy, presence and sheer driving commitment pulsing through him to lift a team which had looked insipid before his arrival.
The goal was inevitable, finished with the sort of emphatic zeal that suggested Firmino was on a mission to say goodbye in the best possible way.
He did, so very nearly turning the game around… and the fans will not forget this afternoon, this magnificent player.
The last 20 minutes were some of the most emotional of the season, you could argue some of the most enervating of Klopp’s era, as the Anfield crowd willed their hero to have the final say on his last outing here. Sadly, even
Firmino’s magic couldn’t quite conjure the victory the occasion deserved – though Liverpool fans and Klopp will argue that was once again because of the refereeing.
Almost predictably, it was a contest once more blighted by controversy surrounding officials with an unfortunate history of, shall we be polite and say “exchanges”, with Klopp. The
Reds boss watched on, amazed in the stand, as referee John Brooks decided Ezri Konsa hadn’t deliberately played the ball when it came off him to allow Virgil van Dijk, standing beyond the Villa defensive line, to tee up Cody Gakpo to equalise.
It took a VAR review and Brooks’ own trek over to the monitor to determine the visiting centre-half didn’t mean a touch