Liverpool's disappointing season ended in humiliation in the shape of a 6-1 hammering by Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. This won't have been the farewell Reds captain Steven Gerrard had envisaged to cap his 17-year spell at the club.
The English midfielder, who will ply his trade for MLS outfit LA Galaxy next season, was given a starting berth for his final appearance for the five-time European champions. However, despite getting on the scoresheet, Gerrard was unable to prevent a shellacking that compounded a miserable week for the club following reports that young star Raheem Sterling is agitating for a move away this summer.
Senegalese striker Mame Biram Diouf broke the deadlock after 22 minutes and then doubled the Potters' advantage barely six minutes later.Ireland international Jonathan Walters made it 3-0 on the half-hour mark, before ex-Liverpool man Charlie Adam ('41) and French midfielder Steven N'Zonzi ('45) added further gloss to the hosts' sparkling first-half performance.
Gerrard reduced the arrears with his last goal in a Liverpool shirt in the 70th minute, though it could hardly be called a consolation strike.Another former Anfield favourite, Peter Crouch, sealed the drubbing late on.
