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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Mark Wakefield

What Liverpool did for Gini Wijnaldum after the final whistle against Crystal Palace

Liverpool have paid a warm tribute to Gini Wijnaldum after the win over Crystal Palace - and presented him with a special gift.

The Reds secured a third place finish in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Victory also secured Champions League football for next season, with Liverpool going unbeaten in their final 10 matches of the campaign.

Wijnaldum all-but confirmed it would be his last appearance in a Liverpool shirt before the game, with his contract due to expire this summer.

After Sadio Mane scored his second goal of the game against Palace to put Liverpool 2-0 up, Jurgen Klopp decided to bring Wijnaldum off and replace him with James Milner.

The Dutchman received a standing ovation from the Anfield faithful, but tributes to the midfielder did not end there.

Shortly after the final whistle, Liverpool players and staff lined up in a guard of honour for Wijnaldum as his name was announced over the tannoy.

As well as applause from his team-mates, the remaining spectators inside Anfield gave their thanks to Wijnaldum once again.

The 30-year-old was also presented with a commemorative plaque of the 'Champions Wall' which features the trophies won in Liverpool's history.

And after that the players and manager could not resist getting up close to hug and slap him on the back as he made his way towards the tunnel.

Wijnaldum has made 237 appearances for Liverpool since arriving from Newcastle in 2016.

And has been an integral part of the success at Anfield ever since.

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