Mark Hughes hails "exceptional" Stoke City

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has hailed his side's performance as "exceptional" after they inflicted a 6-1 hammering on Liverpool on Sunday.

The Potters, who had already secured their highest-ever Premier League points tally, put the Reds to the sword with a ruthless first-half display that saw them lead 5-0 at the break, and Hughes was impressed with his charges.

He told reporters after the game: "We couldn't have asked for a better finish to a really great season. The level of performance in the first 45 minutes was exceptional.

"I don't think it reflects badly on Liverpool, I think most teams would have struggled to cope with the quality and intensity of our play. I sensed this week there was a real focus on finishing on a high, it's been a great season and we've done a lot of things that haven't been done here before.

"Getting beat on your last game at home is a damp squib and we didn't want that. It was a great performance against a very good team. The key next year is to do that on a regular basis and see where it takes us. It puts everybody in good heart and we look forward to next season."

The result saw Stoke end their season with 54 points in the final Premier League standings.