Anfield's incredible response as Sven-Goran Eriksson brought to tears before Liverpool legends match

From the minute Sven-Goran Eriksson expressed his lifelong support for Liverpool, he was taken in by the Reds.

Saturday's legends game against Ajax was the cornerstone in fulfilling the 76-year-old's dream of managing in the home dugout at Anfield. In January, support gathered momentum after Eriksson's terminal cancer revelation and Liverpool duly delivered.

Jurgen Klopp shared an embrace with the Swede prior to training on Friday night but the build-up to the eighth annual match-up was a sideshow to the main event on L4 - and it would've been hard to find a dry-eye as he led the players out.

PLAYER RATINGS: Relentless Fernando Torres inspires Ajax comeback

'I cried' - Sven-Goran Eriksson makes tearful Liverpool admission fulfilling managerial dream

The adulation for the former England manager began prior to the warm-ups as he did his LFCTV media duties, in front of the Kop, less than an hour before kick-off. Eriksson crossed the pitch with assistant manager John Barnes applauding all four corners of Anfield - a place where he has been in the opposition dugout only twice before.

You'll Never Walk Alone had an extra sense of vigour as Anfield rose to its feet to welcome him - leading out both sets of players. The hair-raising rendition was accompanied by tears from the Swede as he tried to hold his emotions together before taking his place in the home dugout.

For Eriksson, this is likely to be one of the last stints pitchside as he got a close-look at Liverpool and Ajax stars - rekindling with Steven Gerrard after their time with the England national team. The first-half brought little joy as Fernando Torres, Gerrard and Maxi Rodriguez tested the visitors goal but the second-half brought him and Anfield to its feet.

A