Liverpool FC host Crystal Palace in the final home game of the season and this match is going to be completely overshadowed by the fact that it is departing skipper Steven Gerrard’s final home game.
Brendan Rodgers is likely to field the same team that drew 1-1 against Chelsea last weekend so we are likely to see Steven Gerrard partner Jordan Henderson in the midfield.
As his illustrious 17-year stay with the Reds comes to a close, the 34 year-old is set to lead his team out of the Anfield tunnel for the last time. Gerrard is also expected to receive a guard of honor and have a mosaic of his displayed in the Anfield crowd.
Liverpool, who are now in all probability going to finish fifth in the table with Europa League next season, have been boosted with the return of Mamadou Sakho and Mario Balotelli. Both the players trained earlier this week.
In all the hype surrounding Steven Gerrard’s final home game, many have forgotten it will also be Glen Johnson’s final game at Anfield. The Englishman has been a victim of a lot of abuse lately, but the 30 year-old will make his 200th appearance for the Reds if he features in this game.
If Alberto Moreno also gets a start, Johnson could play on his comfortable right side and Emre Can could feature in the midfield – something which will excite all Liverpool fans.
If the same team as Chelsea is picked again, Rickie Lambert will start the game. However, the Kop faithful will be more pleased to see some academy youngsters getting to feature in the second last game of the season, so that even symbolically, it seems like Brendan Rodgers has started his preparation for next season after all the gloom and low surrounding this one. Jerome Sinclair came on as a substitute against Chelsea and would hope to make his full league debut against the Eagles.
