- Jordan Henderson pays tribute to Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in his final matchday programme notes of the season.
It was announced on Wednesday that the quartet will leave the club upon the expiry of their contracts this summer.
As such, today’s Premier League meeting with Aston Villa is set to be their last game at Anfield as Reds players.
Read the captain’s heartfelt words in full below.
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“Of the many qualities Liverpool supporters possess, showing genuine love and appreciation to people who’ve contributed to this club is very much up there,” writes Henderson.
“Last Monday at Leicester the serenading of Bobby Firmino from a packed away end was a moment I will never forget. I think you could tell from the players’ reaction at full-time it touched us as a squad just as much as it did our Brazilian No.9 himself.
“Today is going to be special, sentimental and difficult because for four of our squad it will likely be their last-ever Anfield appearance in the Liverpool jersey, with the Liver bird on their chest.
“Let me be clear from the outset. All of us, including the four I’m about to mention, have our heads on the game today. We play arguably the form team of the second half of the season. What Aston Villa have achieved since the World Cup break is outstanding. All the credit in the world to Unai Emery and the players.
“This is as tough a match as you could imagine and we have prepared for it as such. When the game kicks off the only thought we will have is trying to win the contest. We think of nothing else.
“But given this is my final column of the season, I have to use these pages to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of players who will rightly be regarded as Liverpool icons for generations to come.
“Naby Keita is a cult figure with our fans and I can tell you the affection for him in the dressing room is just as big. His smile lights up the AXA Training Centre. As a person he is extremely humble and gentle. As a player he is one of the most technically gifted I have ever trained with. His quality is a joke.
“I’m sure there’ll be some who look at his period here and be frustrated on his behalf that injuries denied him more minutes on the pitch than his talent deserved, but his contribution is there for all to see: big moments in big games.
“Seasons are decided in some of these moments and Naby can look back with great pride for his achievements here. We’re going to miss him and I know he’ll have a huge impact wherever he goes next.
“Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a person I’ve known for a very long time. We were together in the England camp on the day he signed for Liverpool and there is a photo from that evening where we have a big hug just after he’s put pen to paper. I was so excited that we’d persuaded him to come and all these years later it’s clear both sides made the right decision.
“I know the last couple of seasons will have been tough for Ox, in terms of not getting as many minutes as he will have wanted. Nothing can diminish the role he has played in this club’s rise and resurgence, though.
“The 2017-18 season was the one where we all, collectively, found our belief
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