It will be a day of farewells at Anfield on Saturday. From James Milner, the standard-bearer whose fingerprints and footprints are all over some of Liverpool’s greatest triumphs, and from Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, two big-money signings who never quite cracked the code on Merseyside, but who certainly played their part in the club’s recent success.
From Julian Ward, the outgoing sporting director who has spent the past 11 years helping establish the Reds as one of Europe’s dominant forces, and from Ian Graham, the hugely-respected head of research, and David Woodfine, the soon-to-depart director of loans. They won’t get the send-off the players will get, and neither would they want it, but their presence will be just as missed, away from the field.
The most emotional moment, however, will come when the Brazilian with the dancing feet and megawatt smile says ‘adeus’. Roberto Firmino, quite simply, is a Liverpool legend, and this weekend will only underline that fact.
It will be he whose face adorns the matchday programme against Aston Villa, he who the fans will want to see, and to score, more than anyone else. And when the Kop sings his name for the final time on Saturday afternoon, there won’t be a dry eye in the house.