Another banner at Anfield: "Liverpool was made for me and I was made for Liverpool - thanks Stevie"

Lovely pictures outside the Liverpool dressing room where Steven Gerrard's three daughters - three-year-old Lourdes, nine-year-old Lexie and 11-year-old Lilly-Ella - are stood waiting for their dad.

Image source, Tim Cahill

Former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill on Instagram:, external"Farewell to Steven Gerrard it was a privilege to have played against this guy in the derbies and more importantly to see his passion for his club. Yes he's a red and I'll always be blue but I have a lot of respect for this guy. Liverpool will not be the same without him. Wish him and his family all the best in America in the MLS. #Respect #Loyalty"

Two women in the crowd are holding a banner which reads "Stevie G - we love you". Another reads "Thank You Liverpool's Gr8est YNWA". Meanwhile, the pre-match music is still aimed at Los Angeles-bound Gerrard. Kids In America by Kim Wilde is now playing.

Image source, Reuters

Twenty minutes to kick-off. Anfield is filling nicely. There won't be a spare seat in the house come kick-off - even though some tickets have been selling for £1,200., external

Image source, Getty Images

Former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise may now be playing in Cyprus but it seems the emotion of Steven Gerrard's goodbye gripped him on Friday.

In a tear-jerking blog post,, external Riise wrote: "He is the greatest Liverpool has ever had. I'm honoured that I can say I played seven years with the legend himself. I won Champions League with him, even though I think he won it for us."

Mark Lawrenson
Football Analyst

"This is billed as Steven Gerrard's Anfield farewell but, you know what, I don't think it will be his last game there for Liverpool.

Image source, PA

"We have seen players come back to England from Major League Soccer in the United States on loan before and, if he wants to do that, then Gerrard is not going to go anywhere else in this country.

"I don't see Crystal Palace ruining Gerrard's big day. It is basically a chance for all Liverpool fans to say thank you and pay homage to him.

"He has scored in his last two games and it would be nice if he got a goal in this game too. But he is not going to play the full 90 minutes is he? And, when he comes off early, he will get the longest standing ovation in Anfield's history."

Read more from Lawro here.

In 1998, a fresh-faced Steven Gerrard walked into a barber's shop as a promising Liverpool youngster and asked for a short back and sides.

And, as these Premier League stickers chronicling Gerrard's career will attest, nothing has changed in the subsequent years.

Number two in the barber's chair, number one in the heart of modern-day Liverpool fans.

See all of Gerrard's sticker collection here.

Echo and Bunnymen's "Nothing Lasts Forever" is now playing at Anfield. It seems all the pre-match music have been especially picked with Steven Gerrard in mind!

Former England captain and Manchester United midfielder David Beckham keeps his Instagram, external message to Steven Gerrard simple: "Loyalty..."

Image source, David Beckham

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Anfield

"As Liverpool come out to warm up, Steven Gerrard's colleagues allow him to run on ahead so he can take the full acclaim from the Kop."

Steven Gerrard, wearing an orange bib over a red shirt, runs out into Anfield sunshine to warm up and receives a standing ovation from the early arrivals inside the ground. Gerrard responds by raising his hands in the air and applauding.

Stuart Pearce
Former England left-back on Final Score

"One thing is for certain. Steven Gerrard will be back at Liverpool in one shape or form. Be it ambassador, coach, manager, whatever. I think there's a strong possibility he could come back on loan in November."

Image source, Getty Images

Paul Ince was the captain of Liverpool when Steven Gerrard made his debut yet that did not stop the teenager holding back against the skipper in training.

Former Liverpool and Senegal player Salif Diao recalls: "I remember the first time he trained at Melwood he shouted at Paul Ince, at the time Ince was the main man, he did whatever he wanted, no one touched him, and Gerrard smashed into Paul Ince and shouted at him. We all thought this kid has got something!"

And, judging by the photograph above, it seems Gerrard did not hold back after Ince joined Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Anfield

Image source, PA

"Can't help but think Anfield's DJ is pouring his heart out just a little too much now. After David Bowie's "Heroes" we've just had REM's "The End Of The World As We Know It." Over-dramatic?

Image source, .

Former Norway defender Vegard Heggem, the player Steven Gerrard replaced to make his Liverpool debut in 1998, has posted a good luck message to the club's influential captain.

"What a player. #ThanksStevie and good luck!" tweets Heggem,, external who was at Anfield between 1998-2003.

Michael Owen, who scored in Gerrard's debut against Blackburn, writes on sportlobster:, external "Although it must seem like the long goodbye for Liverpool fans, in the words of Eduardo Galeano, "history never really says goodbye. History says 'See you later.'"

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace arrive at Anfield on the back of four straight league defeats and boss Alan Pardew has made five changes to the side that started the 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United on 9 May.

In come keeper Wayne Hennessey, ex-Liverpool defender Martin Kelly, midfielders Jason Puncheon, Lee Chung-yong and striker Marouane Chamakh.

Image source, AP

Liverpool managers past and present are deep in conversation outside the home team dressing room as Gerard Houllier, the man who gave Steven Gerrard his debut in 1998, catches up with Brendan Rodgers.

Image source, @LFC

Perfect weather for a legend's farewell at an immaculate Anfield.

Steven Gerrard will be given a guard of honour prior to the game when he will be applauded on to the pitch by both sets of players.

Giant mosaics will be displayed by the Kop and the lower Centenary Stand in recognition of his services to the club, with one reading 'Captain' and the other spelling out his initials and the number of his shirt - eight.

After the game Gerrard will make a speech to the capacity crowd before stepping off the Anfield turf for the last time.

Have you got your hankies ready?

Chris Sutton
Former Norwich, Blackburn and Celtic striker on BBC Final Score

"I can't quite understand why Steven Gerrard is leaving. There is nobody else in Liverpool's squad who could play in that position. He could easily do another year at that club."