Former Tottenham striker Garth Crooks
Final Score

"I wouldn't say Simon Mignolet made a howler but he didn't push the ball wide enough, having kept it out of the net. He might argue his defenders should have done more to help cover."

Simon Mignolet will be blamed for that goal but Liverpool have been all over the place from the start. Brendan Rodgers' side have shown little attacking threat. Stoke have been busy and dangerous.

Image source, Getty Images

It's been coming and Stoke finally have their reward.

Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet can only parry Charlie Adam's low 20-yard effort into the path of Mame Biram Diouf who cannot miss from almost point-blank range.

The Britannia Stadium erupts.

Close for Liverpool.

Great link up play between Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana results in the latter curling an effort just wide of Asmir Begovic's post.

It might be goalless but it's 2-1 to Stoke on yellow cards as Glenn Whelan is booked for a rash challenge on Adam Lallana. Referee Anthony Taylor is the busiest man on the pitch.

End of season kick-about? Forget it. Liverpool midfielder Lucas becomes the second player to be booked in the opening 15 minutes after a cynical challenge on Jonathan Walters. No love lost between these two teams.

Liverpool's first serious attack results in a corner. It comes to nothing. Liverpool are far from fluent. Stoke have bossed the opening stages.

Another meaty challenge as Jonathan Walters and Mamadou Sakho go for a 50-50 ball. The Liverpool defender comes out worse.

All Stoke in the opening exchanges. It might be the last game of the season but neither side is holding back. Charlie Adam receives an early booking for clattering into Martin Skrtel during a Stoke attack which provokes jeers from the home fans.

Former Liverpool midfielder wants to spoil Gerrard's farewell. The Stoke midfielder lets fly from just outside the Reds area and his effort whistles narrowly wide.

If Gerrard thinks he is going to have an easy ride in his final game then he had better think again. Two minutes on the clock when Glenn Whelan clatters into Liverpool's No 8. Free-kick to Liverpool just inside the Stoke half.

After a long wait Stoke get the game under way.

BBC Final Score

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers: "Part of the reason Raheem Sterling is on the bench is because of everything that has been going on.

"I think it is a game to take him out, there has been a huge weight on him. He is a young player and he deals with it well. We have other players who are focused on the game."

Stoke City XI: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters, Nzonzi, Whelan, Walters, Adam, Arnautovic, Diouf.

Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Allen, Henderson, Gerrard, Lallana, Coutinho.

Gerrard has received some glowing tributes this week ahead of his 710th and final Liverpool game. Here's another one...Stoke mascot Pottermus gives the Reds No 8 a slap on the back. Gerrard returns a big smile.

Liverpool

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard to Sky Sports: "We want to finish as high up the table as possible. It's been an emotional week, I've just been trying to savour every moment. It's nice for the attention to be back on team and not just myself. I've had a terrific farewell. It's going to be nice to play in front of our away fans and hopefully the Stoke fans will go easy on me as well."

Image source, Getty Images

And here come the teams.

Liverpool are playing in their new third kit - a rather smart all black number.

Gerrard leads Liverpool out for the last time.

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, speaking to Sky Sports, on dropping Raheem Sterling to the bench: "A lot been made of the last couple of weeks. We've got other young players very focused on the game."

Foo Fighters blasting out at a sold-out Britannia Stadium. The ground is filling and lots of noise from both sets of fans. Just over five minutes to kick-off.