A summary of Steven Gerrard's final 90 minutes at Anfield

As he prepared to take the pitch, Steven Gerrard extended his left arm towards the "This Is Anfield" sign that sits in the ground's tunnel one last time, his right arm holding his youngest of three daughters, Lourdes.

Saturday was the day that had been on the 34-year-old's mind ever since he had decided that he would join the Los Angeles Galaxy, the day he could no longer think about his next home match for Liverpool, the day that confirmed an empty-handed departure from the Merseyside club in terms of Premier League titles, but a wealthy departure in terms of legacy.

Over 16 years since he made his first-team debut as a teenager, Gerrard stepped onto the pitch at Anfield one last time.

Awaiting Gerrard were close to 45,000 loyal supporters and a pair of stunning mosaics - one reading "Captain" and the other depicting his iconic No. 8.

His "YNWA"-inscribed cleats couldn't have been more appropriate for the occasion, as the club's anthem "You'll Never Walk Around" echoed throughout Anfield in deafening fashion.

However, despite the magnitude of the occasion, a bizarre calmness consumed Gerrard's face as he prepared for kickoff. There were no tears, just the focus that became a staple of his 17 seasons at Liverpool.

Once the match got underway, all eyes followed Gerrard no matter how far removed he was from the ball. Everyone in attendance was hoping that he would cap off his prolific career at Anfield with a moment of brilliance, perhaps with one of his trademark free kicks. Manager Brendan Rodgers even pushed him higher up the pitch, likely with the aim of producing such a moment.

But Crystal Palace had other plans.

Alan Pardew's side limited No. 8's impact on the match and emerged with a 3-1 win in which Gerrard's best chance was a free kick that he curled over the bar.

Perhaps Palace should have allowed him to take the penalty they were awarded in second-half stoppage time, but while some might argue that it wasn't the conclusion Gerrard deserved, there can be no denying that it was a fitting end.

After all, we're discussing a player who's leaving a team with zero Premier League trophies to his name and who will unfortunately be remembered for his literal slip-up against Chelsea that proved to be the catalyst for Liverpool's tragic 2013-14 title forfeiture.

Then again, the final whistle marked the conclusion of a career that included one Champions League title (2005), one UEFA Cup title (2001), two FA Cup titles (2001, 2006), and three League Cup titles (2001, 2003, 2012). He was also Liverpool's top scorer in three seasons and won 41 individual awards, including an Order of the British Empire. There can be few complaints.

Gerrard briefly exited the pitch after the match, and when he returned, standing alongside him were his teammates, all wearing the No. 8 shirt and waiting for the captain to deliver his final farewell to the Anfield faithful.

"I've been dreading this moment and the reason being is that I'm going to miss it so much," Gerrard said, visibly fighting back tears. "I'm absolutely devastated I'm never going to play in front of these supporters again. I've played in front of most fans around the world but I've got to tell you - you are the best."

In an industry where money dictates the flow of players, Gerrard is one of the last of a dying breed. Loyalty is more fickle than ever, an unfortunate consequence of the sport's globalization. What Premier League player holds the ability to hang up his cleats after nearly two decades of featuring for the same club and receive the goodbye that Gerrard received?

He recently admitted that Jose Mourinho had tried to convince him to join Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid over the years. Of course, none of those moves materialized, leaving him and many others to wonder what could have been.

Whatever could have been, however, would pale in comparison to the scenes that unfolded at Anfield on Saturday.