SHAMBOLIC DISPLAY FROM BRENDAN RODGERS' SIDE

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.

LOUIS VAN GAAL PUTS PRESSURE ON SPANISH GOALKEEPER

The Manchester United's Dutch manager,Louis van Gaal, spoke about David De Gea after the match against Hull City.

"It's time De Gea said something about his future. I can't say anything about it. It's time for him to say something", retorted Van Gaal when questioned about the future of the Spanish international.

24-year-old De Gea did not recover from the injury picked up last week against Arsenal in time to be able to play in United's last game of the season.

His compatriot Victor Valdés, who arrived at the club in January after leaving Barcelona, was in goal on Sunday for the 0-0 draw with Hull City at the KC Stadium.

"He's a very quick and explosive player. He's very good on the goal line. He spilled a ball in the first half and Hull scored, but he got lucky with the goal being disallowed for offside", said the Dutchman.

When asked about the future of Colombia's Radamel Falcao García, currently on loan at United from Monaco but with the loan period ending imminently, Van Gaal denied having already made a decision and said he had to speak to the player.

"There's still a day left. I'll speak to him tomorrow", the United manager confirmed regarding the ex-Atlético striker, who has only scored four goals in 26 appearances this season.

IN SEARCH OF MORE FIRST-TEAM FOOTBALL

Didier Drogba is leaving Chelsea at the end of this season, citing a desire to play more first-team football at another team.

"I want to play for at least one more season and in order to play more football I feel I need to go to another club", the Ivory Coast striker told the Londoners' website. Drogba did not mention where he will be playing next season.

A club statement read:"Everyone at Chelsea Football Club would like to thank Didier for his fantastic service and he is always welcome back to Stamford Bridge".

COLOMBIAN BACKS COACH TO STAY ON

Real Madrid drowned their sorrows in goals against Getafe on an anticlimactic final day for 'Los Blancos'. Nevertheless, one of the straws the fans are clutching at ahead of next season is James Rodríguez, who has proven that he is a player capable of great things.

The Colombian bagged Real's fifth goal in the meaningless rout with a free-kick worthy of any highlights reel, curling the ball perfectly around the wall and into the net. This was far from the first excellent set piece he has delivered this season, so the team have a fine alternative to Cristiano Ronaldo, who had himself netted from an earlier free-kick but has hardly set the world alight on this score in recent times.

James's strike took him level with Gareth Bale on 17 goals for the season and 13 in La Liga, although the Colombia international played two fewer league games and, unlike the Welshman, has been tasked with combining his attacking instincts with defensive duties.

The former Monaco, Porto and Banfield star took stock of the campaign after the match: "It's been a good season. We were close on every front, but luck didn't go our way much. We also had a lot of people out through injury between January and March, but we made mistakes that we have to learn from. Next year we'll do better".

The Colombian also spoke about Carlo Ancelotti, making it quite clear that he wants the Italian to stay: "It would be tough to take and a bit of a shock if the boss left. He's been here for two years and he knows what we're about and how we perform, but it's not my place to talk about it".

ATLÉTICO 3RD AND ATHLETIC BOUND FOR EUROPA LEAGUE

A rollercoaster last day of La Liga action ended withAtlético third, Valencia fourth, Sevilla fifth, and Deportivo and Granada surviving at the expense of Eibar and Almería.

Valencia nabbed a spot in the Champions League play-offs through a hard-fought victory in Almería, meaning Sevilla will have to win the Europa League final to avoid going back into the competition next term.

Athletic de Bilbao will join Villarreal in the Europa League after sealing seventh spot with a crushing rout of none other than the Yellow Submarine, setting themselves up perfectly for next week's Copa del Rey final.

At the bottom, Ipurúa went from euphoria to heartbreak.Despite Eibar thrashing already relegated Córdoba, Deportivo saved themselves with an equaliser at the Camp Nou and condemned the Basque minnows to the drop.Almería also put on a brave stand, but were ultimately unable to hold on against Valencia and so head back to the second division.

FESTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE TITLE AND BID FAREWELL TO NO. 6

Xavi Hernández collected the league trophy from the hands of Spanish FA president Ángel María Villar after the match against Deportivo, which kicked off celebrations on the Camp Nou pitch.

The 'Azulgranas' stadium was packed to the rafters with 90,000 spectators and the reasons for the festivities were two-fold. Not only were they celebrating the league title, but they were also bidding farewell to a club legend, Xavi Hernández, who sets out on a new adventure in Qatar next season.

After a 17-year stint playing top-level football, the Catalan player was in for an emotional day and was unable to hold back the tears after the countless shows of affection both from the stands and on the pitch, with his teammates wearing a commemorative T-shirt over their kits bearing the number 6 on the back.

Following a group photo, the speeches began. Luis Enrique, one of the vice-captains, Andrés Iniesta, and the skipper and star of the night, Xavi Hernández, all stepped up to the microphone.

The Catalan player, visibly touched by a video in remembrance of his career which was shown on the big screens and by the chanting of the crowd, thanked his family for the "unconditional support" which they have always shown him. He professed himself "the happiest man in the world" and said that he also felt "proud to be part of Barcelona, the best team in the world, whatever they say".

PORTUGUESE STAR GIVES ANCELOTTI VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

Cristiano Ronaldo sent out a message of support for Carlo Ancelotti after the Getafe game, expressing his desire for the Italian to stay at Real Madrid.

The star took to social media to post a photo of himself beaming alongside the coach outside the dressing room, together with this caption: "Great coach and amazing person. Hope we work together next season".