Crystal Palace spoiled Steven Gerrard's Anfield farewell with a deserved 3-1 win away at Liverpool this evening.
Adam Lallana fired the Reds ahead on 26 minutes to get the celebrations underway, but Jason Puncheon equalised with a free kick to level matters before the break.
Wilfried Zaha, with his very first touch, tapped the visiting side into the lead on the hour mark, before Glenn Murray tapped home the rebound from his missed penalty late on to seal the points.
Below, Sports Mole reviews how the game was won during an end-of-an-era clash on Merseyside.
© Getty Images
Match statistics
LIVERPOOL
Shots: 19
On target: 5
Possession: 65%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 17
CRYSTAL PALACE
Shots: 14
On target: 5
Possession: 35%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 10
Was the result fair?
Undoubtedly. Crystal Palace were far and away the better team in both halves and three points is their just desserts for an excellent performance this evening.
Liverpool's performance
The occasion was always far bigger than the result on a day that would see the legendary Gerrard bid farewell to the Liverpool fans at Anfield.
Consequently, there was a sense of apathy from the hosts during a relatively lifeless performance that spawned very little by way of goalscoring chances. Even their goal was gifted to them by Martin Kelly when Lallana capitalised on his sloppy pass after 26 minutes. The Reds only mustered four shots on target from that point onwards, none of which severely tested Wayne Hennessey.
There was a moment early in the second half when the ball fell to a red shirt on the edge of Palace's box. Anfield held its breath for a split second in the hope that it was Gerrard about to mark his departure with a signature stunner, but it was Jordan Henderson, who fired wide.
Lucas Leiva's arrival on 65 minutes - five minutes after they fell behind - allowed Gerrard the opportunity to take up a more advanced midfield role as he looked to rescue Liverpool one last time. Despite one or two hopeful efforts, the captain was not going to sign off in a way befitting of his 17-year spell, and Murray sealed victory in the dying minutes.
It was not the way that the 34-year-old would have liked to ride off into the sunset, but defeat is of little consequence on a day where the real loss is Gerrard.
Crystal Palace's performance
Alan Pardew, who named an experimental first XI, took a gamble by playing right-back Kelly in central defence and it backfired. It was Kelly's misplaced pass that Lallana pounced on before running through on goal and calmly firing past Hennessey.
However, it was another of Pardew's pre-match experiments that helped them draw level, as Yannick Bolasie, spearheading the attack instead of Glenn Murray, caused the home defence a number of problems in the first half, and Puncheon equalised from a free kick that Bolasie won off Emre Can. It was nothing less than the visitors deserved, having previously spurned several clear-cut chances through Joe Ledley and Lee Chung-yong on his full club debut.
Palace retained that momentum after the break, with Bolasie still causing their defence no end of problems - and it eventually paid dividends when his teasing cross was tapped home by Zaha on the hour mark with what was his first touch. At the other end, they looked relatively comfortable in repelling everything that came their way, with Kelly atoning for his earlier error with an assured centre-back display alongside Scott Dann.
The former Manchester United winger was proving an inspired sub by Pardew, as Zaha, who looked a menace virtually every time that he picked up possession, then won a penalty after effortlessly skinning Can and Lucas, before being fouled by the latter - though replays showed that it may have been outside the box. Murray converted at the second attempt, after his initial effort was saved by Simon Mignolet, to wrap up the points.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Yannick Bolasie: The winger-turned-striker was a breath of fresh air for Crystal Palace all evening. Pardew used him there as an experiment for next season, and on this evidence he has certainly earned future chances in a central role.
Although not on the scoresheet, Bolasie effectively grabbed two assists; passing across the face of goal for Zaha and winning the free kick which led to Puncheon's equaliser. Furthermore, he was a thorn in Liverpool's defence for 80 minutes and Pardew will be keen to see him up front again next season - if he can keep hold of him.
Biggest gaffe
Having risen through the ranks at Liverpool before joining Palace, it was a big day for defender Kelly on his return to Anfield - and one that he will be keen to forget.
It was his first-half error that led to Lallana's opening goal on 26 minutes. He could perhaps be afforded a degree of sympathy, given that playing in central defence represented an unfamiliar role, but it was still sloppy mistake that had more to do with concentration - or lack thereof - than operating in a different position.
Referee performance
Referee Jonathan Moss was having a stellar game for roughly 90 minutes, dishing out five yellow cards - Can, Joel Ward, James McArthur, Jordan Mutch and Philippe Coutinho - in incidents that looked worthy of a booking.
However, Moss looked to have awarded a penalty for a foul that occurred outside the area when Lucas tripped Zaha. The game was more or less won already, but that decision may irk Rodgers.
What next?
Liverpool: The Reds put a difficult season behind them once and for all next Sunday with a trip to Stoke City.
Crystal Palace: Palace will also be relieved to see the end of a trying campaign when they host Swansea City on Sunday.
Shane Callaghan
