Steven Gerrard Predicts 'Strange,' 'Emotional' Anfield Farewell

Steven Gerrard wants to treat his last game at Anfield like any other contest, but he knows the general public won’t let that happen.

Gerrard told LiverpoolFC.com on Wednesday he expects Liverpool’s game against Crystal Palace on Saturday at Anfield to be a strange and emotional affair. Although Gerrard most likely will be playing his final home game for Liverpool, he’d rather not dominate attention and headlines in the Reds’ penultimate game of the 2014-15 season.

“It’ll be strange, I’m sure it will,” Gerrard said. “It’ll be an emotional day for me and my family and friends that have followed me throughout my career. And also for a lot of supporters that have watched me for many, many years, not just at the stadium but around the world as well.

“I’m going to get the attention at the weekend, it’s not something I really like, but hopefully I can put in a good performance for the supporters so we can get a win and I can enjoy the send-off that I’m going to get.

“It’s going to be a difficult day but I’m going to try and enjoy it.”

Gerrard will end his 17-year Liverpool career and join Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy as a free agent this summer. Having decided in January to leave Liverpool, Gerrard has had plenty of time to contemplate what Saturday’s scenes will look like. Yet, the longtime Liverpool captain fears tears could flow.

“There’s plenty of time to be sentimental and emotional after the games are done, but I don’t really want to listen to supporters being emotional face-to-face because I’m a little bit afraid of breaking down and showing too much,” he said.