FeatureFrom Firmino to Smicer: Liverpool players who scored on their final appearance

The Brazilian is the 16th-highest scorer in Reds history and while the assist statistic has not been around as long, he would no doubt rate highly in those standings too.

Firmino scored the goal that crowned Liverpool champions of the world for the first time; he found the net on four occasions in the Champions League as the Reds became kings of Europe in 2018-19; and he provided the decisive strike in five of their eight one-goal wins away from home when they clinched the Premier League the following season.

By these standards, the final nugget of club history Firmino delivered is nowhere near as important. But by slotting home at Southampton in the final match of 2022-23 following some nifty footwork in the box, he became the 43rd player to score on their last appearance for the Liverpool men’s team.

He followed directly in the footsteps of Takumi Minamino, who did likewise in the corresponding fixture 12 months earlier. The other players to have done this under Jürgen Klopp are Mamadou Sakho (in the manager’s first Merseyside derby), Jordon Ibe and Dominic Solanke.

Some players, such as Suso or Solanke, saved their only Reds goal for their swansong, while others finished by leaving a mark on some of the biggest games in Liverpool history.

And several all-time greats of the club netted at the final time of asking, too.

For instance, Steven Gerrard signed off with a goal in his 710th and last match for the Reds. However, as he is the only player since 1995 to do this in a defeat, the iconic former captain is unlikely to look back on his last strike for Liverpool with as much fondness as many players might with theirs.

John Aldridge had no such concerns. He came off the bench to score a penalty with his first touch as Crystal Palace were beaten 9-0 at Anfield in 1989.

The present-day Reds equalled that scoreline against AFC Bournemouth last August, but there has still never been a bigger top-flight league victory in the history of the club.

Another example came when Rafael Benitez’s team delivered one of the greatest comebacks of all time against AC Milan in Istanbul 18 years ago.

Having gone 3-0 down in the European Cup final, Liverpudlian hope was rekindled thanks to a header from Gerrard. It was reignited further when Vladimir Smicer, in his final Reds game, scored two minutes later.

The Czech also converted his kick during the shootout, netting the ultimately triumphant penalty with his final touch as a Liverpool player.

Almost as absurd was the FA Cup final 12 months later. That was also settled from the spot following a 3-3 draw with West Ham United.

On that occasion, the Reds’ comeback from 2-0 down was kickstarted by a Djibril Cisse goal. It concluded his two seasons with the club in fine style.

Famous names such as Peter Crouch, Michael Owen, Jan Molby and Ian St John are among the other players who also pulled down their Liverpool curtain with a goal.

It was perhaps no surprise that the ultimate showman Firmino added his name to the group on his final appearance for the club. He’s scored too many times to miss out on this one.