A triumphant day for the former English champions, Liverpool, comes with the bitter departure of Georginio Wijnaldum – but the real bomb dropped after in the player’s farewell to the fans. Shots fired!
Liverpool made sure of Champions League qualification and leap-frogged from fifth into third place in the EPL standings, thanks to other results going their way while winning their home tie against Crystal Palace to finish the season on 69 points.
It took a goal by Sadio Mane in either half to settle the nerves at Anfield that was filled with 5000 or so fans for the Reds final act on Matchday 38 of the English Premier League.
🗣"I hoped to play many more years for the club, but things went different."
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 23, 2021
Georginio Wijnaldum talks about leaving Liverpool and says now is not the time to say why he is departing pic.twitter.com/bIfRZrju74
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Despite only two goals being scored, it was a match filled with end-to-end action. The Eagles had their chances and could have been the side to go up first but it wasn’t going to be the send-off Roy Hodgson had dreamt of as he puts an end to a 54-year career as a coach.
The Reds made do with their luck and half chances but truly bossed the game and stayed in Palace’s half for a large duration of the game. It took Crystal Palace 50 minutes to get a touch on the ball in Liverpool’s penalty area.
Liverpool enjoy a double farewell – Midfielder Gini and kit man Graham Carter says goodbye to Anfield
All good things must come to an end they say – so it is for central figure Wijnaldum and the kit man, who has been the kit man for 35 years, who both bid farewell on the final day.
Graham Carter retires after an end of a long journey and was given a special sending off by the manager Jurgen Klopp and the fans. Gini, likewise. Many emotions on the day, but what followed from the Dutchman, proves it was not by choice that he leaves the club he claims to love so much.
In Gini’s interview he stated:
"I wanted to stay. But unfortunately the fans don’t know what has gone behind the scenes. But I wanted to stay. Its just a bit tricky. And it is difficult to leave. But soon I will do my story and the fans will understand why I am going."
Thank you for everything, I will miss you #YNWA ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/kUsvxc3qbi
— Gini Wijnaldum (@GWijnaldum) May 23, 2021
This outright displays there is more to the situation than meets the eye. For all this time it was believed that he was not willing to budge and had his eyes set on a Barcelona switch and a huge salary – but this appears to be far from the truth.
As of now, and as affirmed by the player himself, he is no longer a Liverpool man but has not decided where he will be following Euros – priorities will shift now and it is the Netherlands national side and Euros to concentrate on.