Steven Gerrard is leaving Liverpool this summer and Twitter is very emotional

The 34-year-old Merseyside-born midfielder – who made his Liverpool debut in 1998 – released a statement, calling his move from the club "the toughest decision of my life", and confirming he would not play for a competing side as "that is something I could never contemplate".

"Liverpool Football Club has been such a huge part of all our lives for so long and saying goodbye is going to be difficult," said Gerrard, "but I feel it's something that's in the best interests of all involved, including my family and the club itself."

Clearly an emotional time for Gerrard, but also for former colleagues and his many supporters who took to Twitter in their droves to express their gratitude and upset at their esteemed captain's impending departure.

There was pride...

https://twitter.com/9smudge/status/550797578955415552
https://twitter.com/RichJolly/status/550774837573328896

Tears.

https://twitter.com/Calum5SOS/status/550782964359917568
https://twitter.com/JohnnyBEEVER/status/550959129729437697
https://twitter.com/Appatakker/status/550958812446736384
https://twitter.com/retroshady/status/550958514621784064

Teary eyed. Don't want him to go. A legend, an icon, captain fantastic. Absolutely love the guy. Irreplaceable. God sent. #LFCIcon @LFC

— !nsomn!a (@BoredomKiller_1) January 2, 2015

https://twitter.com/rickedwards1/status/550954632768684032

Former colleagues tweeted their tributes to #CaptainFantastic:

https://twitter.com/petercrouch/status/550794814963597312
https://twitter.com/DietmarHamann/status/550887351442886659
https://twitter.com/themichaelowen/status/550962825049669634

It was an honour to get the chance to play alongside Steven Gerrard .. Will always be a legend. pic.twitter.com/sO9fSvODcL

— Jonjo Shelvey (@shelveyJ) January 2, 2015

https://twitter.com/MartinKelly1990/status/550943496254017536

Mark my words, Gerrard is the greatest player to have played for @LFC and it's a sad, sad day for everyone connected with the club #YNWA

— Sami Hyypia (@SamiHyypia04) January 2, 2015

And the pundits weighed in with their verdicts on Stevie G's departure.

https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/550778661256044544
https://twitter.com/henrywinter/status/550783271928594432
https://twitter.com/philmcnulty/status/550776393366532096

Some decided humour was the best remedy during this dark time...

https://twitter.com/BBCSporf/status/550774673966125057

Steven Gerrard scored 2 goals today *Steven Gerrard leaves liverpool* pic.twitter.com/npo1CGLTen

— Jamie (@Bantertelli) January 2, 2015

https://twitter.com/TLBWriters/status/550774447842816000
https://twitter.com/Now__Football/status/550775102653345792

While others were bewildered by Twitter's fragile state:

The furore around Gerrard leaving is weird. Every player who has ever played with him putting pics up of them together. He hasn't died.

— Paul Bannister (@PaulDBannister) January 2, 2015

Why is everyone going on as if Gerrard is retiring ffs he's still gonna be playing no need to give it the 'best I've played with' just yet

— Karl Marshall (@KarlMarshall) January 2, 2015

But most of all, there was gratitude to one of Liverpool's greatest ever players.

https://twitter.com/_anthonychan/status/550947341797425152
https://twitter.com/kopitetilldeath/status/550915578165067776
https://twitter.com/Barmedahley/status/550969143969996800
https://twitter.com/RKidWM/status/550967003780235264
https://twitter.com/LazerMarkovic/status/550967127000514560