Anfield, (Liverpool): Crystal Palace once again proved the party poopers for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard as the Eagles came from a goal down to win 3-1 in the Reds skipper’s final game at Anfield.
It all looked to be going so well for the home side as Adam Lallana capped off a battling run with a wonderful finish to open the scoring after a dominant start.
But Jason Puncheon dampened the mood at an effervescent Anfield with an equaliser before the break, beating Simon Mignolet with a fine free-kick.
Build up to the game was dominated by all things Gerrard, as former and current team-mates and fans all waxed lyrical about their long-term leader, but he failed to lead Liverpool victory against the plucky Palace.
Alan Pardew’s men ruined the Merseyside outfit’s Premier League title hopes with a stunning comeback at the end of last season, and they repeated the feat again as Wilfried Zaha scored within a minute of his second-half introduction to put the visitors in front.
And the three points were sealed as Glenn Murray slotted in on the rebound from his saved stoppage-time penalty to spoil Gerrard’s day.
After a tame start in which Liverpool dominated but failed to really threaten, the Reds finally took the initiative as Lallana latched onto a ball over the top, held off a challenge from Scott Dann and finished with aplomb into the top corner.
The England midfielder sprinted straight to Gerrard in his celebration, but the Reds were forced to put in a shift for the remainder of the half as the Eagles responded well.
Several chances came and went for the visitors, with Joe Ledley and Korean international Chung-Yong Lee firing warning shots narrowly over from decent positions.
The likes of Lee and Yannick Bolasie were stretching Liverpool’s back-four with some darting runs, and the latter proved too quick for Emre Can, whose clumsy challenge led to Palace’s leveller.
Bolasie was running the Reds’ defence ragged with his pace, strength and dogged determination, and the Congo international was inches away from what would have been a deserved goal moments later, only for his swivel and strike from inside the box to clatter the crossbar.
It was a disappointing display from Liverpool, with star men Raheem Sterling and Coutinho struggling to make an impact against the dogged visitors.
Gerrard was also quiet but it seemed the headlines where already written when the skipper stepped forward for a free-kick from a dangerous position, but he failed to hit the target, sending his effort harmlessly over the bar.
The damage was already done by Palace and, in truth, there seemed no way back for the Reds in the closing stages, and the result was sealed in stoppage-time when Murray netted from the second attempt from the spot.
Replays showed Lucas’ foul on Zaha actually occurred outside the box, but the despondent home side didn’t appeal as the full-time whistle soon signalled defeat. It wasn’t the Hollywood ending Gerrard would have wanted, but that didn’t stop the Anfield faithful from giving him a fitting send off as choruses of ‘Steve Gerrard, Gerrard’ sounded around the stands, and not for the last time. (Agencies)
