2016-17 pundits' picks: Moment of the Season
The penultimate category in our end-of-season review is Liverpool's overall moment of 2016-17. Plenty to choose from, plenty to consider, but what have our panel members opted for?
Gareth Roberts: When Gini Wijnaldum scored in injury-time against Arsenal at home. Liverpool had played well that day and deserved the three points but at 2-1 it was still in the balance. Adam Lallana did brilliantly to hold onto the ball around the centre circle before releasing Divock Origi down the right. And he played the perfect ball for Gini to do the rest. It was a huge moment of relief and joy rolled into one, the Kop let off a real guttural roar – and it was clear that the players enjoyed it just as much as the fans, which is always good to see.
Chris Bascombe: Can I have two? Ultimately I would say Gini Wijnaldum’s goal against Middlesbrough because of the tension that was in the stadium, the nerves and everybody feeling here we go again! As soon as that ball hit the back of the net we knew it was going to be a top-four finish and there wouldn’t be an unhappy end. If you were to ask most supporters they would probably say the injury-time winner against Everton in the last minute at Goodison Park just before Christmas.
Steve Hunter: The final whistle at the end of the Middlesbrough game to signal our return to Europe’s elite. It was so important we made the top four and despite injuries at times to key performers stretching us to the limit, the boys delivered.
David Fairclough: The last-minute win against Everton. It’s always good to put one over Everton, that goes without saying, and to do it in circumstances like that was most enjoyable and important.
Melissa Reddy: Mane’s 96th-minute winner at Goodison and the celebrations it prompted is only matched by Wijnaldum’s opener against Middlesbrough and the relief it prompted.
Roy Evans: When the referee blew the whistle at the end of the Middlesbrough game because it’s so important we are back in the Champions League. It’s not the be all and end all getting in the Champions League but it’s a step forward and it’s where we want to be. Qualifying was a sign of progress.
Jan Molby: You always look at the great games with a late great goal, but I will go for the final whistle at the end of the Middlesbrough game because the top four was threatening to drift away from us. That final whistle enables us now to get people fit again like Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane and recruit.
Matt Smith: I think it has to be when the third goal went in against Middlesbrough, just because of the importance of qualifying for the Champions League. I think it gives the club a chance to breathe and a chance to compete with clubs it aspires to playing against on a season-by-season basis. To be back in it, hopefully after the play-off, is very important.