Emotional farewell for Gerrard

Long-serving Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard bade an emotional farewell to Anfield last Saturday as his side lost 1-3 to Crystal Palace in his final home game for the club.

After almost 17 years of service, 709 appearances, 185 goals and 10 trophies, the 34-year-old midfielder had hoped to sign off on a winning note before joining the Los Angeles Galaxy in July.

But although Adam Lallana put Liverpool ahead, goals from Jason Puncheon and substitutes Wilfried Zaha and Glenn Murray ruined the script as Palace ended a four-game losing streak and claimed a first league win at Anfield since 1991.

The defeat ended Liverpool's slim mathematical hope of Champions League qualification ahead of their final game at Stoke City, but that was of minor concern on a day that belonged to their beloved, home-grown captain. 

Several former Liverpool greats were among the          44,673 people in attendance, as well as ex-manager Gerard Houllier, who handed an 18-year-old Gerrard his debut as a substitute against Blackburn Rovers in November 1998. 

Players from both sides formed a guard of honour as Gerrard took to the pitch accompanied by his daughters Lourdes, Lexie and Lilly-Ella, while fans in the Kop and Centenary Stand formed mosaics in his honour

Mario Balotelli penned an open letter to Steven Gerrard as footballers past and present used social media to pay their tributes to the former England skipper.

Liverpool team-mate Balotelli posted a hand-written letter on Instagram ahead of Gerrard's final Anfield appearance against Crystal Palace. 

Balotelli wrote: “Stevie … I had the honour to play with you, not for long but still an amazing and unforgettable experience for me.”— PAS