Tony Marshall/Getty Images The final day of the Premier League season saw Stoke City convulse Liverpool at home, winning 6-1 in incredible dash to end the campaign in ninth, with the Reds in sixth .
Liverpool concede 5 first-half goals in top flight league match for first time since 1976 ( Villa 5-1 ). # lfc
— Infostrada Sports (@InfostradaLive) May 24, 2015
6 – liverpool have conceded 6+ goals in a league game for the foremost meter since losing 7-2 to Spurs in 1963. Demolished .
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 24, 2015
Charlie Adam, in good score form recently, was the first gear to try his luck from range but cleared Simon Mignolet ‘s bar after Lucas Leiva lost possession in the center of the pitch. Moments subsequently, the Stoke midfielder was booked after he went in studs-up on Martin Skrtel during a interfering, throughout startle to the plot. The Reds ‘ first attack of note came from Steven Gerrard, in his final examination bet on for the cabaret, switching free rein right to Philippe Coutinho. The brazilian showed good skill and control to beat his man and cut baseball diamond but fired his feat well off prey. early yellow cards kept coming, as first Lucas and then Glenn Whelan were booked, before Adam was golden to escape a irregular yellow precisely 16 minutes into the game. Adam then tried a 40-yard shot on the turn, but despite the ironic cheers of the home fans, it was well off target. At the other end, Coutinho played in Adam Lallana, whose curl shoot just evaded the far post .
Stoke v Liverpool anything but a distinctive end of season matter. No flip flops required. Shinpads all excessively necessary .
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarretTimes) May 24, 2015
The inaugural goal came barely past the 20-minute sign, when Marko Arnautovic all in Emre Can, Adam saw his film from the edge of the box saved by Simon Mignolet, but the ‘keeper could only palm his deliver into the path of Mame Biram Diouf, who finished high gear into the net .
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That was unexpectedly the sign to open the floodgates : Diouf smashed in a second base just minutes later, cracking in a coating from the edge of the box that gave Mignolet no opportunity, before an terribly defensive confusion saw Emre Can nod a hybridization down in his own six-yard corner to allow Jon Walters to score from close range at the second attempt. It got flush worse before the break, as Liverpool ‘s baggy defensive play continued. Mamadou Sakho and Lucas combined to lose monomania to Adam before the ex-Red drove forward and cracked in a moo finish into the buttocks corner to make it 4-0, which was soon followed by Steven Nzonzi, who put a top-class, curling campaign into the top corner for an incredible 5-0 scoreline at the break .
Liverpool have conceded 4 goals in the foremost half of a PL couple for the first time ever. # lfc # stoke
— Infostrada Sports (@InfostradaLive) May 24, 2015
Liverpool made a double substitution at half-time to try and repair some damage, bringing on Kolo Toure and Jordon Ibe, but they made little dispute to the penetration of the side. The Reds enjoyed more time on the ball after the break but found no route to goal beyond a few corners and dribbles from Ibe down the left flank. The away team ‘s first inject on target came on 64 minutes, when Lallana shot heterosexual at Asmir Begovic good a few moments after Martin Skrtel escaped a second jaundiced for a poor challenge on Nzonzi. Stoke were obviously sitting back and not as purpose on attacking in the second half, and the Reds ‘ fringy improvement was rewarded in emotional terms at least, as Gerrard ran onto a Rickie Lambert header to sweep a ticket low ending past Begovic to mark his final Reds appearance with a finish.
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Dave Thompson/Getty Images Despite that better energy in the second-half, chiefly from Ibe and Gerrard, it was Stoke who appropriately had the last news, as Diouf crossed from the left and Peter Crouch rose to world power a record-breaking header into the corner to round off the score .
47 – Peter Crouch has now scored 47 headed goals in the Premier League, more than any other player. Giant .
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 24, 2015
The 6-1 scoreline marked the inaugural time Liverpool have conceded six goals in a game since 1963. Grades Steve Nzonzi: A Tony Marshall/Getty Images Nzonzi ran the game in the first half, winning the ball in the center and left side of the park and spraying passes to get his team on the front foot throughout. His infrequent bursts forward caused panic as Liverpool backed off, which ultimately led to his preciseness stopping point for the fifth Stoke goal. Every Single Liverpool Player: No Rating This was a complete and express shambles from the away side, who were lacking in effort, lotion, shape and ability on the ball. Reaction The only significant words following the game came from Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, who apologised in his press conference. Per LiverpoolFC.com :
To start with, it ‘s an apology. I think everybody, all the supporters connected with Liverpool, will – like us all – be embarrassed by that and they deserve an apology. In the first half, we were besides easily beaten. They have every right to be [ angry ]. These supporters have been brilliant for us, particularly away from base with the patronize we ‘ve had. We can have no complaints – any of us. The supporters were angry at half-time and rightly so because that was awful, first half. absolutely atrocious.
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There are a count of key elements of the performance today that did n’t surprise me, if I ‘m being honest .
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