Stoke City beat Liverpool 6-1 at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday, as the Potters recorded their biggest-ever win in the Premier League.
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Steven Gerrard scored Liverpool’s lone goal in his final game for the Reds but it was an embarrassing afternoon for Brendan Rodgers’ side as huge question marks will be asked about his future over the summer.
As for Stoke, they raced into a 2-0 lead as Mame Diouf scored twice, then Jonathan Walters, Charlie Adam and Steven N’Zonzi scored to make it 5-0 at half time. Peter Crouch added another late on to seal a memorable final day win for Stoke.
Mark Hughes’ side finish ninth in the PL with a record points tally of 54, while Liverpool finish in sixth and qualify for the Europa League on 61 points.
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The goals came thick and fast for the home side as Diouf got his first in the 22nd minute when Marko Arnautovic played it into Adam and his shot was spilled by Mignolet straight to Diouf who tapped home. 1-0. Four minutes later it was 2-0 as Diouf drilled in a shot from the edge of the box which Mignolet somehow let slip through him.
Stoke were rampant at this point and took full advantage of Liverpool’s ragged defense as Adam looped in a ball which was headed down and Walters knocked home. 3-0. A nightmare day continued to get worse for Liverpool as Adam then robbed Lucas on the edge of the box and slammed a shot into the net to score against his former team as Rodgers looked embarrassed on the sidelines.
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The pick of the bunch then arrived just before half time as N’Zonzi hammered home a unstoppable effort as Stoke’s Player of the Season made it 5-0 to the Potters after an incredible first half.
In the second half Gerrard teed up Adam Lallana but his effort was well-saved by Asmir Begovic as Stoke was on a cruise control. Gerrard then did it himself as he latched onto Rickie Lambert’s flick and finished well to end his Liverpool career with a goal. 5-1.
Late on Crouch headed home to become the all-time leading scorer of headed goals in the PL with 47, beating Alan Shearer’s record, as Diouf teed up his strike-partner. 6-1 to Stoke, and that is how it finished for Liverpool’s worst-ever defeat in PL history.
LINEUPS
Stoke City: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters; N’Zonzi, Whelan; Arnautovic, Adam, Walters; Diouf
Goals: Diouf (22', 26'), Walters (30'), Adam (41'), N’Zonzi (45'), Crouch (86')
Liverpool: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Allen, Henderson, Gerrard, Lallana, Coutinho
Goal: Gerrard (70')
