Liverpool’s struggling season ended in a 1-1 draw with Brentford.
Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson both started for last season’s Premier League champions in their final appearances before leaving this summer.
The outgoing Egyptian created the opener shortly before the hour mark when his right-sided delivery across the face of goal was turned in by Curtis Jones.
But the visitors drew level just eight minutes later as Kevin Schade met a deflected cross to the far post to head home past a returning Alisson.
Arne Slot’s side still booked their spot in next season’s Champions League by sealing a fifth-place finish ahead of their closest challengers Bournemouth.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
Another final day of farewells
Liverpool’s final home game of the season coinciding with the departure of modern day club legends has become a recurring theme during recent times.
Last year it was Trent Alexander-Arnold while, 12 months earlier, Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara joined Jurgen Klopp in bidding fond farewells to Anfield.
The likes of Jordan Henderson and Caoimhin Kelleher, both lining up against their former club on Sunday, did not even receive the luxury of a fan send-off.
But Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson would never be packed off quietly, even if the former did previously appear destined for a muted January exit.
In the pantheon of Reds’ legends, the pair have more than earned their spots over the previous nine years of glittering success and memorable moments.
The Egyptian contributed one more with a cross for Curtis Jones’ opener that saw him overtake Steven Gerrard for the club’s most Premier League assists.
Robertson, too, produced a throwback display in his 378th and final outing as a timely reminder to any potential suitors of his timeless ability and qualities.
One banner displayed on The Kop before kick-off declaring ‘when will we see your like again’ articulated their respective contributions better than most.
No pride in top five stumble
In Fenway Sports Group’s eyes, Liverpool managers have one basic target.
No matter what trophies may find their way into the cabinet, Champions League qualification is the bare minimum that the American owners expect.
A failure to reach Europe’s elite leaves the dugout incumbent on borrowed time, like Brendan Rodgers, or not that fortunate, in Kenny Dalglish’s case.
Yet Arne Slot should not see stumbling to a fifth place finish as a success, not least after starting from a position of strength as Premier League champions.
Only the top flight’s newly improved coefficient opening up an additional spot has spared the Dutchman from a similar fate to his recent predecessors.
All things being equal, Anfield would instead be coming to terms with myriad Thursday nights in the Europa League and the various issues that causes.
Slot can cite injuries and other factors as mitigation but the reality is that the Reds should have had this wrapped up long before this final day encounter.
Make no mistake, though, that this is not an achievement to be proud of and one which supporters will not solely accept into the upcoming campaign.
Who’s next in Reds’ exodus?
As two of Liverpool’s all-time greats did their final lap of this famous stadium, the question on who will be following them out the door was inescapable.
Alisson’s long-term future remains increasingly clouded in uncertainty amid growing speculation of a summer return to Serie A by signing for Juventus.
The Brazil international is not alone with defensive cohorts Ibrahima Konate’s contract talks yet to deliver a breakthrough and Joe Gomez into his final year.
Curtis Jones, too, appears increasingly destined for the exit with reports of a renewed approach from Inter Milan imminent in the summer transfer window.
Others could be joining that potential exodus with Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa likely to among those seeking more regular opportunities elsewhere.
Given how some of the aforementioned players openly liked Salah’s pointed social media post last weekend, Slot may see it as a blessing in disguise.
Losing so many established players, however, could also work against the beleaguered head coach at a time when he needs to stamp his authority.
If any lessons are to be learned from this most forgettable of seasons, another high squad turnover risks being equally debilitating for Liverpool.