The thing with Liverpool is that there is always a point of reference between past and present. So on this spring day, with emotions heightened and a sense of nostalgia heavy in the air as goodbyes were said, your mind drifted back to a similar occasion in 1994.
It doesn’t seem that long, but it is now 29 years, already a generation ago. That was the last season where the Kop was a standing terrace and the last dance before it was a home game against Norwich City. The expectation, of course, that the visitors would be pushed aside.
Everything was set for celebration: a packed house, the return of legends who had set the standard for an emotional precursor, flags and banners unfurled in every part of the stadium. However, the party turned into the biggest damp squib of all time as a horrible Liverpool team wilted.
Norwich, who had mixed it up with Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in the UEFA Cup that season, won 1-0 – Jeremy Goss wrote a piece of history by scoring last for De Kop – and the fairytale final failed to materialize.
For long periods of time, that’s exactly how it felt things would turn out on this occasion. Roberto Firmino and James Milner, along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, said goodbye and closed the chapter on a wonderful era.
Roberto Firmino came off the bench to give Liverpool a point at home to Aston Villa
Firmino leaves the Reds along with Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
For a moment it seemed that the four departing players would not get a good end at Anfield
Merchandise for Firmino was sold out at the stadium, fans had arrived in Brazilian uniforms to pay tribute to a man who scored 109 goals in eight years, including the decisive goal in the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup final against Flamengo.
Liverpool, after a streak of seven wins, were expected to make it eight and send the outgoing quartet on their way with one last happy memory. The thing is with football, it rarely follows the predicted script and for long periods of time, another damp firecracker seemed in the offing.
Aston Villa – excellently coached and organized by the outstanding Unai Emery – played with energy and a clear plan. They deserved the lead Jacob Ramsey had given them, a lead that could have been doubled had Ollie Watkins kept his nerve as he took a penalty for The Kop.
With Jurgen Klopp in the stands, Liverpool did not look good. They tried too hard, failed too many things, and in the rare moments when they saw the target, they found Emi Martinez brimming with stubbornness. He was not to be beaten.
Then, just when it looked like 1994 was about to repeat itself, Firmino and Milner were called off the bench. Liverpool started to tap and soon Villa tried to hold back the Alamo, as wave after wave of attack washed towards them.
In the end there was an equalizer and a fairy tale. There was Firmino, with goal 110, to secure a draw. His goal-scoring contributions have been worth five points to Liverpool this season, a major reason why they must somehow play European football next year.
It would be ridiculous to suggest that Liverpool can replace him; nor will they be able to replace the indefatigable Milner. He has set standards in camp, guided teammates in the right direction. He leaves as the best free transfer in the club’s history.
Like Firmino, Liverpool will not be able to replace the tireless James Milner
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave with a sense of what could have been after injuries
You could see the emotion they felt at the end, emotion that was also felt by Oxlade-Chamberlain and Keita. The latter did not have the impact many expected following his then club-record arrival from RB Leipzig in 2018, a point evidenced by his 129 appearances being fewer than Milner (130) from the bench for Liverpool.
But a penny for the thoughts of Oxlade-Chamberlain. Klopp spoke of him warmly on Friday and also with a sense of what could have been: he was excellent in 2018 when he first arrived and without a knee injury that was absolutely catastrophic, things could have been different.
At the time he had made himself a regular in England and given Liverpool variety from the engine room. There were early moments when he made a difference. The thing about Firmino is that he kept doing it to the end.