An emotional Anfield will witness the end of an era this evening when Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard makes his final home appearance after more than 700 games and 17 years playing for his boyhood club.
Tickets that normally cost £47 are on sale on the internet for more than £1,300 such is the demand to see Gerrard’s last match on home soil against Crystal Palace after his exceptional, glittering, one-club career.
Last week the former England skipper was part of a guard of honour saluting champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and today Palace’s players are expected to line up and applaud him as he leads the team out of the Anfield tunnel for the last time.
After today’s match, Liverpool have one game left at Stoke City on the final day of the Premier League season on May 24 when Gerrard, who turns 35 at the end of the month, will bid farewell to his adoring fans before joining LA Galaxy.
With Chelsea having won the title and Burnley and Queens Park Rangers already relegated, the only issues still to be decided are who fills the third relegation spot and the destination of the three Europa League places.
Liverpool will clinch one of them with a win over 12th placed Palace who are chasing their highest finish in the Premier League era.
Restricted role
Liverpool still have a remote mathematical chance of making the top four but, wherever they finish, Gerrard will no doubt relish his last home appearances in a red shirt.
This week, he said the spark went out of his game when manager Brendan Rodgers told the midfielder earlier this season that he would have a restricted role in the side.
“When a manager says your role is going to change and it’s going to become more limited – that’s when you make your decision.
“It’s not a selfish thing but coming on as a sub is just not the same buzz so things have changed this year,” he said at a gala dinner for former Liverpool players.
Few players have worn their club shirt with more pride than Gerrard and he said he has enjoyed some “unbelievable highs” as well as some “cruel lows” over the years.
“Istanbul still makes the hairs on my neck stand up,” he added of the night in 2005 when Gerrard inspired a Liverpool fightback from 3-0 down at half-time to beat Milan on penalties in the Champions League final.
“It was the best night of my life. Every footballer thinks it’s the best cup to win. It will go down as the best Champions League final ever and as captain of that team there was no prouder man on the planet.”
Gerrard, who has played 253 Premier League games at Anfield, said he hoped he could return one day in a coaching role.
“To take a role at this club first and foremost you have to be good enough, you never take a role here on reputation,” he said.
“But in a couple of years time when I’ve been out of the city and can reflect, if there’s a role offered I feel I’m good enough for I would consider it.”