Jeers as Gerrard bids farewell – an ominous sign for Liverpool
Legend departs Anfield for the final time, and leaves little hope for the future
Steven Gerrard said farewell to Anfield on Saturday, but not in the manner he would have liked. His career on Merseyside came to and end with an embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, and his public show of support for manager Brendan Rodgers failed to win over the doubters.
There were emotional scenes as Gerrard did a final lap of honour after the match. His team-mates, kitted out in Gerrard number eight shirts, looked on, tributes flooded in and Anfield and Sky Sports worked themselves into a sentimental lather.
But in the aftermath of the game the cheers soon subsided and the focus in many quarters turned to Liverpool's future without Gerrard rather than his achievements as a player.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"As the captain made his last, weary exit through the early evening drift of Anfield, the adoration surrendered to fear," says Chis Bascombe of the Daily Telegraph. "The Kop was witnessing more than the departure of a formidable talent. With Gerrard gone, Liverpool finds itself in urgent need of another spiritual leader.
"The insipid performance against Crystal Palace was emblematic of a deteriorating team... Now they have not only lost the most influential player of his generation, but a source of reassurance."
And Gerrard failed in his final effort to instil hope in the fans. "There was audible laughter and jeering from the home supporters when he expressed his optimism for the team he is leaving behind, says Sachin Nakrani of The Guardian.
This season Liverpool "have gone from almost winning the title to failing to qualify for the Champions League and win a trophy, and the loss of one of the best players in the club's history hardly soothes those concerns", he adds.
The Kop's reaction to Gerrard's words "should send shockwaves through a club whose fans are rapidly losing faith", says Tony Barrett in The Times.
"Once Gerrard has departed, the scrutiny on those who remain will only increase," he adds. "The ambition and aptitude of Liverpool’s owners will be put to the test, as well as the ability of Brendan Rodgers to draw character out of a group of players that has so far proven resistant to their manager's calls for new leaders to emerge."
Life will go on at Liverpool without Gerrard, "but the early indications of how it will pan out are anything but positive", concludes Barrett.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'It may not be surprising that creative work is used without permission'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
5 simple items to help make your airplane seat more comfortable
The Week Recommends Gel cushions and inflatable travel pillows make a world of difference
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
How safe are cruise ships in storms?
The Explainer The vessels are always prepared
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City’s financial charges: what next for the Premier League champions?
feature The club is alleged to have breached financial rules around 100 times over a nine-year period
By Mike Starling Published