Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher admitted he had an emotional afternoon after playing his last match for the club at Anfield before retirement.
Philippe Coutinho's 23rd-minute goal settled the encounter against relegated QPR but all the attention was on the veteran centre-back on his 737th and final appearance. He almost capped it with a superb goal - he scored on his full debut in front of the Kop - but his sweetly-struck 25-yard shot cannoned back off the post.
"I'll have to watch it again - I thought it was in," the 35-year-old told LFC TV. "I'm not the type to get too emotional but it is emotional. I've got my friends and family in the stands but I just wanted to concentrate on the game. We got the win that we wanted and I can go and enjoy myself now."
He added: "It was a special send-off for me and a day I'll never forget. I've been playing here a long time and it's sad to think I'll never play at this stadium again in a competitive game.
"But it has to come to an end at some stage and I've got some great memories."
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will miss having Carragher around for a variety of reasons and he knows he is impossible to replace.
"I don't think there are many about like that, I've got to be honest," he said. "What he's got at this football club is unique. You have to find different ways. All great players, their time comes to an end.
"We've seen it here through the years. You look at Ian Rush when he went away and they brought in John Barnes and Peter Beardsley - and they brought something else.
"We need to find a good one now to come in and support the group - and it certainly won't be easy.
"He's an incredible player and a real gentleman. You saw his performance - his ambition was to go out at the top and he's going out as a top performer."
Source: PA
