When we reflect back on Jurgen Klopp’s time at Liverpool three men will always be mentioned – Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Bobby Firmino but now this trio is set to be fully dismantled.
Ahead of the Brazilian receiving his richly deserved guard of honour from his teammates, it seems that our Egyptian King was realising the magnitude of the occasion.
For so long they’ve been viewed as a united trio but now they will all be fully apart and that’s something that will clearly have hit all of them.
Our former No.10 left last summer and our No.9 is going in this, let’s hope there’s a few more years before we see the final man leave the Reds.
Roberto Firmino was left in tears as he said goodbye to the Liverpool faithful on Saturday afternoon, following the Reds’ final home game of the season.
Liverpool settled for a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, with a top-four finish now looking highly unlikely. Firmino – who is leaving the club at the end of the season – was the hero, though, as he equalised with just minutes remaining.
The Brazilian, who signed for Liverpool all the way back in 2015, will likely feature in the final game of the season against already relegated Southampton. His time at Anfield, as a Liverpool player, is over, however.
Firmino, who was given a guard of honour, was not the only Liverepool player making his final home appearance for the club, with the long-serving James Milner also departing at the end of the season. Both players were brought on as substitutes, drawing huge cheers from the crowd, while banners were raised on the Kop before the match.
Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who were not in the matchday squad, are also leaving at the end of the campaign, and they too were celebrated after the match. All four players were presented with framed pictures on the Anfield pitch.
Firmino (right) was left in tears after playing his final game at Anfield for Liverpool on Saturday
The departing James Milner also featured as Liverpool settled for a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa
Firmino was understandably jubilant as he notched the equalising goal, but he quickly became overcome by emotion following the full-time whistle.
The popular forward was given a standing ovation by the fans, who sang his well-known chant for perhaps the last time. Firmino was left in tears, with fellow Brazilian Alisson embracing him.
All four departing players took part in the customary final home game lap of the pitch, with the club’s players joined by their families as they saluted the home crowd.
Firmino in particular was applauded by the fans, having played such a key role in Liverpool’s Champions League triumph in 2019 and Premier League win a year later. With the forward departing, and with Sadio Mane having already left, just Mohamed Salah remains from the feared attacking trio.
Milner, meanwhile, has proven to be one of the best pieces of transfer business in Liverpool’s history, arriving on a Bosman in the summer of 2015 but going on to win seven major trophies.
Naby Keita (left) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (right) were involved as the quartet were honoured
Firmino was among many players to stop and take pictures with the fans in the Anfield crowd
Firmino was given a guard of honour at the end of the Premier League encounter on Saturday
Mail Sport understands Jurgen Klopp is a huge fan of Milner and would have been happy for him to stay but there was never a decision to make in that respect: Liverpool never offered Milner new terms and the parting of the ways will be amicable.
Liverpool, following the draw, sit fifth in the Premier League table with one game to play, three points behind Newcastle and Manchester United in third and fourth respectively.
United, who claimed a narrow 1-0 win at Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, still have two games remaining, however.
As do Newcastle, who don’t play until Monday, when they host Leicester.
Liverpool now face an uphill battle to qualify for the Champions League, though they will feel their final game, away to already relegated Southampton, is very much winnable.
