Carragher bows out as Liverpool end 2012/13 with a win

Liverpool 1-0 Queen’s Park Rangers
Sunday, 19th May 2013
Anfield
Premier League

anfieldpanoramicqpr

Match Summary

Philippe Coutinho scored a cracker of a goal to give Liverpool a 1-0 victory over Queen’s Park Rangers in the final game of the Premier League season.

On an emotional day at Anfield, which saw veteran defender Jamie Carragher hang up his boots on a 16 year career at the club, Brendan Rodgers’ failed to capitalise on good periods of pressure and several chances, but took three points anyway.

It means Liverpool finish the 2012/13 season in seventh place, two points behind sixth place Everton. They finished 12 points off the Champions League places, and 28 points off league winners, Manchester Utd.

Coutinho’s first half low, drilled shot from outside the box was a scortcher of a goal, set up by young Jordan Ibe, making his first team debut on the left wing for Liverpool.

Anfield rose to give Carragher a good send off when he was substituted off in the 87th minute. Earlier the Kop had held up a mosaic paying tribute to the 35-year-old number 23.

At the final whistle, players brought their families onto the pitch for a lap of honour, whilst a beautiful rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone rung around the ground.

Reaction

Brendan Rodgers:

“The win marks a terrific end to the season for us. We would love the season to continue as we have found our feet and form. [But] we’ve got work to do during the summer in terms of reinforcing the group.

“Carra is a true great. This is a guy, who after 737 games, is a true legend of this club. His performance was immaculate. I only wish for him and his family that his strike would have gone in. He gets credit for defensive qualities but he is also a great technical player.

“It has been a pleasure working with him. My only regret is that I would have liked to have had many more years and games working with him.”

Video: Coutinho goal 1-0

Team Line-ups and Substitutions

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Jose Enrique, Carragher (Coates – 85′ ), Skrtel, Phillippe Coutinho (Suso – 74′ ), Henderson, Downing, Lucas, Ibe (Borini – 64′ ), Sturridge.

Substitutes: Jones, Coates, Wisdom, Coady, Assaidi, Borini, Suso.

Queens Park Rangers: Green, Traore, Hill, Onuoha, Harryman, Derry, Park Ji-sung (Hoilett – 80′ ), Townsend, M’bia, Remy (Granero – 46′ ), Zamora (Mackie – 72′ ).

Substitutes: Murphy, Fabio, Granero, Hoilett, Ehmer, Mackie, Bothroyd.

Ref: Atkinson
Att: 44,792

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