Carra Hits Post In Final Game For Reds

There will never be another like him; Jamie Carragher...
Image: guardian.co.uk

Liverpool played their last game of the season on Sunday against QPR at Anfield. The game didn't have any real purpose behind it though and so all of the focus was on the retiring Jamie Carragher. A guard of honour saw the number 23 out onto the pitch with The Kop creating a massive mosaic for the defender. Carragher ran towards the Kop with his son and daughter and thanked the Anfield faithful, it was an emotional moment and finally it seemed real that Carragher was in fact retiring.

In terms of the game though it may not have meant anything, but Liverpool still wanted to finish their season on a high. 7th place isn't an achievement really and finishing behind Everton just rubs more salt in the wound but here's hoping Brendan buys well in the summer and we can push on next season finding some consistency on the way!

Liverpool started the game in a confident manner whilst QPR lacked a spark. Philippe Coutinho was the star man for Liverpool though, weaving his way through problems and setting up his team mates. He's been fantastic since we signed him and if anybody deserved to find the back of the net yesterday (aside from Carra) it was Coutinho.

Coutinho actually had the ball in the back of the net earlier in the game but the referee ruled no goal and so Coutinho would have to wait a bit longer to give the Reds the lead.

At 22 minutes he got his chance. After an assist from the 17 year old Jordan Ibe making his debut, Coutinho struck a powerful shot from outside the area and sent his effort low to the left of goal. It was a cracking goal really and just what Liverpool needed.

QPR weren't really troubled Pepe Reina too much, especially in the first half but it was Loic Remy who was taking the chances for his side. Some efforts early on went just shy of goal for QPR as they looked to find an equaliser before half time.

In the Red corner, it was Jamie Carragher getting harassed to push forward for the Reds, almost every time he got the ball. It would have been such a story for Carragher to have scored on his debut 16 years ago and then score on his final day in a Red shirt. The dream nearly came true too after a stinging shot from long range smashed back out off the post, unbelievable! It would have been an absolutely brilliant goal, the Anfield faithful had their hearts in their mouths but it just wasn't to be.

It wasn't a terribly exciting game but Liverpool were definitely the better of the two teams, Rob Green kept his side in with a chance after saving efforts from the likes of Enrique and Johnson but QPR just couldn't find themselves a goal.

Jamie Carragher the man of the moment was substituted at 85 minutes and to rapturous applause. Anfield began a rendition of "team of Carraghers" as the legend left the field for the last time. He was replaced by Coates.

And so folks that is the end of the season and the end of an era. Liverpool finished in 7th place on 61 points. And Jamie Carragher finishes on 737 games, a feat only bettered by Ian Callaghan.

What did you make of this season? Were you happy with it? Do you feel we've underachieved? Leave your thoughts below.

As always on The Liver Bird at some point in the next week there will be a mini pocket sized round up of the season with some snippets of what was going on in the news at the time as well, once again, thank you all for stopping by on my little blog here and roll on 2013/2014!

Cheerio Carra!

We all dream of a team of Carraghers...
Image: guardian.co.uk

Well, here we are, the end of the season. This one in particular seems to have flown by and unfortunately I a have to admit I've found myself a bit bored this season, I just haven't felt fully entertained, only at certain points, here's hoping next season we can improve on that!

Sunday of course may be the last game of the season but with Liverpool destined to finish in 7th place win, lose or draw all of the focus is on the retiring James Lee Duncan Carragher. I've always loved Carragher, from schoolgirl crush to adult crush to having a general soft spot for traditional old fashioned defenders, I just feel that he's a credit to not only his sport but to sportsmanship and to gentlemen as a whole.

On Sunday there will be a guard of honour for Carragher who retires after 16 years at one club, something you don't see very often at all these days. There will be presentations, talks and of course banners and you can be certain a rather noisy version of "Team Of Carraghers" will be ringing around Anfield, all in all it should be a very special occasion. So special in fact that even Carragher's Mom will be attending the game.

Onto the match...

Injuries for Liverpool mean they are without Steven Gerrard and Daniel Agger. Also out is Suarez, still serving that ban but there is a hope that Skrtel may be able to feature this time after missing out on the last match. For QPR they are without Taarabt, Campbell and Wright-Phillips but they won't be too worried as they're only really playing for pride.

The last time the two sides met was in December last year, on the score sheet were the missing duo of Daniel Agger and Luis Suarez, Suarez getting 2 for his side. In terms of QPR's visits to Anfield, they don't come often and so we have to go back to March 1991 to find a win for the Londoners.

Stat Sandwich

• The Reds have scored the most league goals since January scoring 39 times.
• QPR haven't won in their last 8 games.
• Daniel Sturridge has found the back of the net 6 times in his last 4 games.

I think Liverpool have the win sealed here, with no real pressure on them and everybody wanting the side to end on a high and with the added emotion of it being Carragher's last game. This will be Carragher's 737th game, a truly remarkable achievement I'm sure you will agree and I seriously hope we can send him off in style with a win and somebody please, set the poor lad up! Lol

#CarragherHatTrick

Sturridge Hat Trick Sinks Fulham

My favourite image from Sunday, it's just a shame there isn't a bigger version...

Image: gettyimages

Liverpool came back from a goal behind at Craven Cottage on Sunday to win the game 3-1 courtesy of a Daniel Sturridge hat trick. Berbatov opened the scoring for the home side but the Reds quickly found an equaliser and went from strength to strength. Fulham were angry that they weren't awarded a penalty after the ball struck Lucas' hand in the second half and this perhaps stumped their momentum.

Liverpool began the game with a pretty different starting XI. Steven Gerrard was the main man missing but there was also no Agger or Skrtel giving Coates a chance to start. Wisdom and Shelvey also made appearances.

Liverpool began the game strongly applying pressure on the Fulham back four. One member who would appear as a substitute received a great reception from the travelling fans, John Arne Riise made clear his appreciation after the match.

Phillippe Coutinho left the away fans gasping early on after a stinging shot from range was saved by Mark Schwarzer. Despite the Reds perhaps getting the better of the starts Fulham did manage to settle into a rhythm and it was Dimitar Berbatov who found the first goal of the game.

Liverpool wasted no time in finding an equaliser though as Daniel Sturridge found his chance 3 minutes later. A lovely long ball from Andre Wisdom in defence allowed Sturridge to pick up the pass on the edge of the box, with still a lot left to do the forward wasn't necessarily expected to score but a powerful effort from an angle saw his chance fly high into the back of the net.

Liverpool were now in a comfortable position ready for the second half and it was Daniel Sturridge again who found the Reds their second. Just after the hour mark after an assist from Coutinho, Sturridge slotted home his effort from inside the box.

Sturridge was on fire but shortly before his second goal Fulham found themselves aggrieved after Lucas Leiva appeared to handle the ball in the box. The referee chose not to award Fulham the penalty and this perhaps allowed Liverpool to catch them off guard.

With 15 minutes left to go Fabio Borini was brought into the game and replaced Jonjo Shelvey. The Italian quickly had an influence on the game seeing and effort rebound off the far post.

Sturridge completed his first ever hat trick with 5 minutes left on the clock his goal into the top right corner completed a well deserved hat trick and left Fulham wondering what the hell had happened. It was nice to see both Liverpool and Sturridge pull out a performance after the slight disappointment of the Merseyside Derby.

Here's hoping that they can put on a similar display in the final game against QPR.