AFTER 17 YEARS, 708 appearances, 185 goals and 10 trophies, Steven Gerrard plays his final home game for Liverpool this afternoon. The legendary midfielder heads off to the MLS to join LA Galaxy in the summer and this, the Reds’ penultimate fixture of the season, is likely to feel like a testimonial as fans show their appreciation.
Gerrard enjoys a quick chat with the Sky Sports lads pre-match. Jon Super
Jon Super
16 May 2015
5:19PM
As expected, the Liverpool captain starts. Here are the teams:
Walking out with his three daughters, Gerrard gets a guard of honour before Anfield erupts into ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. Emotional stuff.
PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Right, let’s get down to some football.
16 May 2015
5:37PM
Nothing of note in the opening four minutes but Liverpool have just won themselves a corner. Jordan Henderson takes, but his ball doesn’t find a team-mate.
There’s a plane flying over Anfield along with the banner ‘In Rodgers We Trust’.
Wonder if all Liverpool fans would agree…
PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
16 May 2015
5:45PM
Ward makes a clumsy lunge at Moreno but he jumps to avoid the challenge. Liverpool dominating possession at the moment.
Liverpool – 80%
Crystal Palace – 20%
16 May 2015
5:49PM
Adam Lallana wins a free-kick wide on the right and Gerrard aims for Martin Skrtel. The Slovakian defender gets his head onto the ball but so does Ward. Goal kick given though.
16 May 2015
5:53PM
Jason Puncheon and Lee Chung-yong work the ball to Pape Souare. His cross is collected by Simon Mignolet, however.
Lallana and Henderson the link up brilliantly with a succession of one-twos around the Palace box. It comes to nothing.
16 May 2015
5:55PM
The ever-dangerous Yannick Bolasie picks up possession and cuts inside onto his right foot. It opens up for a strike and he pulls the trigger. The shot is blocked out by Skrtel, who stands firm.
The Reds are in front. Martin Kelly’s poor pass is pounced on by Lallana, who produces a smart finish over Wayne Hennessey.
16 May 2015
6:03PM
Palace hit back with two chances but Ledley and Bolasie both shoot over the bar. Down the other end, Sterling shoots straight into the arms of Hennessey.
16 May 2015
6:13PM
Jordan Ibe’s cross runs all the way over to the opposite flank, where Moreno recycles and puts the ball back into the box. Ledley crashes into the back of Sterling, who takes a tumble in the box, but referee Jon Moss isn’t having any of it.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace (Jason Puncheon)
Emre Can gives away a free-kick in a dangerous area and earns himself a yellow card. Puncheon curls the ball into the bottom corner with Mignolet rooted having taken a step the wrong way.
The second half starts with Palace on the attack. Ledley find himself in a great area but his heavy touch means the chance goes begging.
16 May 2015
6:37PM
Palace break with Bolasie and he lays off to Puncheon. The goalscorer comes in off the wing and tries his luck from distance but it’s high and wide.
16 May 2015
6:42PM
Coutinho plays a beautiful ball onto the chest of Henderson. He is unable to make sufficient contact and Ibe then shoots into the side-netting.
There are half-hearted penalty shouts in the Liverpool box when Lee goes down under a challenge from Skrtel. Doesn’t look a penalty.
16 May 2015
6:47PM
Lallana’s strong running sets up a chance for Henderson. The England midfielder comes running onto the ball on the 18-yard line and drives it a couple of yards outside the post.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-2 Crystal Palace (Wilfried Zaha)
Wow, only on the pitch a matter of seconds, substitute Zaha bundles the ball in at teh back post. Replays appear to show that he was offside when the ball was play.
PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
16 May 2015
6:52PM
Gerrard shoots from 25 yards out but it’s saved. He has 27 minutes to rescue his team one last time at home.
16 May 2015
6:56PM
OFF THE CROSSBAR! Bolasie, who has been causing all sorts of problems, smashes his strike off the bar.
16 May 2015
7:04PM
Nice move by Liverpool with Coutinho, Sterling and Lallana all involved but none of them can get a shot away.
16 May 2015
7:05PM
Free-kick for Liverpool in Gerrard’s type of range…
16 May 2015
7:06PM
No joy. Gerrard attempt is nowhere near Hennessey’s goal.
16 May 2015
7:09PM
Gerrard with another strike at goal. The less said about that one the better. 10 minutes remaining.
16 May 2015
7:10PM
Glenn Murray replaces Bolasie. He has been excellent again today.
16 May 2015
7:13PM
Yellow Jordan Mutch for a late tackle on Can.
16 May 2015
7:15PM
Jerome Sinclair, the 18-year-old striker keeping Mario Balotelli out of the Liverpool squad, has been brought on for Moreno.
As it happened: Liverpool v Crystal Palace, Premier League
IT WAS STEVEN Gerrard’s last hurrah in front of the Kop.
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AFTER 17 YEARS, 708 appearances, 185 goals and 10 trophies, Steven Gerrard plays his final home game for Liverpool this afternoon. The legendary midfielder heads off to the MLS to join LA Galaxy in the summer and this, the Reds’ penultimate fixture of the season, is likely to feel like a testimonial as fans show their appreciation.
As expected, the Liverpool captain starts. Here are the teams:
Liverpool: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Gerrard (c), Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho, Ibe, Sterling
Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Dann (c), Kelly, Souare, McArthur, Ledley, Puncheon, Lee, Bolasie, Chamakh.
Quick poll for the day that’s in it: Who is the Premier League’s best ever midfielder?
Poll Results:
Even Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has gone all soft for the occasion. Here he is presenting Gerrard with a bottle of Moet et Chandon champagne.
Walking out with his three daughters, Gerrard gets a guard of honour before Anfield erupts into ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. Emotional stuff.
Right, let’s get down to some football.
Nothing of note in the opening four minutes but Liverpool have just won themselves a corner. Jordan Henderson takes, but his ball doesn’t find a team-mate.
There’s a plane flying over Anfield along with the banner ‘In Rodgers We Trust’.
Wonder if all Liverpool fans would agree…
Ward makes a clumsy lunge at Moreno but he jumps to avoid the challenge. Liverpool dominating possession at the moment.
Adam Lallana wins a free-kick wide on the right and Gerrard aims for Martin Skrtel. The Slovakian defender gets his head onto the ball but so does Ward. Goal kick given though.
Jason Puncheon and Lee Chung-yong work the ball to Pape Souare. His cross is collected by Simon Mignolet, however.
Lallana and Henderson the link up brilliantly with a succession of one-twos around the Palace box. It comes to nothing.
The ever-dangerous Yannick Bolasie picks up possession and cuts inside onto his right foot. It opens up for a strike and he pulls the trigger. The shot is blocked out by Skrtel, who stands firm.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Crystal Palace (Adam Lallana)
The Reds are in front. Martin Kelly’s poor pass is pounced on by Lallana, who produces a smart finish over Wayne Hennessey.
Palace hit back with two chances but Ledley and Bolasie both shoot over the bar. Down the other end, Sterling shoots straight into the arms of Hennessey.
Jordan Ibe’s cross runs all the way over to the opposite flank, where Moreno recycles and puts the ball back into the box. Ledley crashes into the back of Sterling, who takes a tumble in the box, but referee Jon Moss isn’t having any of it.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace (Jason Puncheon)
Emre Can gives away a free-kick in a dangerous area and earns himself a yellow card. Puncheon curls the ball into the bottom corner with Mignolet rooted having taken a step the wrong way.
Half-time: Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace
A couple of stats from FourFourTwo’s StatsZone:
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The second half starts with Palace on the attack. Ledley find himself in a great area but his heavy touch means the chance goes begging.
Palace break with Bolasie and he lays off to Puncheon. The goalscorer comes in off the wing and tries his luck from distance but it’s high and wide.
Coutinho plays a beautiful ball onto the chest of Henderson. He is unable to make sufficient contact and Ibe then shoots into the side-netting.
There are half-hearted penalty shouts in the Liverpool box when Lee goes down under a challenge from Skrtel. Doesn’t look a penalty.
Lallana’s strong running sets up a chance for Henderson. The England midfielder comes running onto the ball on the 18-yard line and drives it a couple of yards outside the post.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-2 Crystal Palace (Wilfried Zaha)
Wow, only on the pitch a matter of seconds, substitute Zaha bundles the ball in at teh back post. Replays appear to show that he was offside when the ball was play.
Gerrard shoots from 25 yards out but it’s saved. He has 27 minutes to rescue his team one last time at home.
OFF THE CROSSBAR! Bolasie, who has been causing all sorts of problems, smashes his strike off the bar.
Nice move by Liverpool with Coutinho, Sterling and Lallana all involved but none of them can get a shot away.
Free-kick for Liverpool in Gerrard’s type of range…
No joy. Gerrard attempt is nowhere near Hennessey’s goal.
Gerrard with another strike at goal. The less said about that one the better. 10 minutes remaining.
Glenn Murray replaces Bolasie. He has been excellent again today.
Yellow Jordan Mutch for a late tackle on Can.
Jerome Sinclair, the 18-year-old striker keeping Mario Balotelli out of the Liverpool squad, has been brought on for Moreno.
Coutinho has just picked up a booking too.
Penalty to Palace!
GOAL! Liverpool 1-3 Crystal Palace (Glenn Murray)
Zaha is tripped by Lucas in the box and sub Murray steps up. His first effort is saved but the striker follows it up to score a third for Palace.
Full-time: Liverpool 1-3 Crystal Palace
The goodbye isn’t over just yet. All the Liverpool players are back out on the pitch wearing ‘Gerrard 8′ jerseys.
Holding back the tears…
Gerard Houllier is here too.
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