Steven Gerrard secured a point for Liverpool with a fine first-half header against Chelsea on Sunday lunchtime.
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(Video) Gerrard goal vs Chelsea: Skipper rises to the occasion for Liverpool
Chelsea took the lead through John Terry, but they couldn’t claim the three points after an impressive return to form for Brendan Rodgers’s men.
While the Northern Irish boss will be happy with his side’s second-half display, the draw means that Champions League football is now beyond the Merseysiders for next season.
Here are the player ratings:
GK: Simon Mignolet – 6
Endured a few nervous moments early on, and needed to be saved by his centre-backs, but his authority grew as the match wore on.
One save from Cesc Fabregas in the first half kept the Reds alive and he made a few key stops.
DR: Emre Can – 7
Proactive, and repeatedly looked to join the attack, but this left spaces in behind and disrupted Liverpool’s defensive shape and resiliency. Some tackles were also noteworthy.
CB: Dejan Lovren – 7
Overcame his (many) critics to put in a strong performance against the league champions. Several key interventions suggest that improvement and consistency may be on the horizon.
CB: Martin Skrtel – 7
Good defensive organisation throughout, with one late block from Cesc Fabregas particularly deserving of praise.
DL: Glen Johnson – 6
Foraged forward in search of action, but struggled to actually influence proceedings despite seeing a lot of the ball. Competent defensively despite playing in an unfamiliar left-back role.
MC: Philippe Coutinho – 7
Impressed on the left of the midfield three, but early flashes of excellence became rarer as Chelsea looked to close him down and squeeze him out of the contest.
MC: Jordan Henderson – 7
Made several pertinent contributions; a first-half pass was excellent, but ultimately squandered by Rickie Lambert. He contributed the assist for Liverpool’s equaliser, a fine header by Gerrard—the man he will be tasked with replacing next term.
MC: Steven Gerrard– 8
An excellent performance from Gerrard as the end of his Liverpool career nears. It was a measured and temperate performance against the old foe, with the England international using the ball well and wisely, and he saved a point for Liverpool with a well-placed header.
LF: Adam Lallana – 7
An encouraging performance from the former Southampton midfielder; was booked for a foul on Branislav Ivanovic—who marshalled him well—but impressed with a few bright flashes.
CF: Rickie Lambert – 5
Having been criticised for not having used Lambert more often during the season, Rodgers may point to this performance as evidence of why the ex-Saints man has been used sparingly.
Struggled to interact and engage with his teammates and was wholly ineffectual.
RF – Raheem Sterling – 7
There were some moments of excellent dribbling and foot work, but Sterling’s finishing—as it has been in many of Liverpool’s recent performances—was sub-par. Lacked an end product.
Sub: Lucas Leiva – 5
A composed, reassuring presence in the centre of midfield and helped Liverpool keep their shape after Gerrard’s departure.
Sub: Jordon Ibe – 7
Looked lively after replacing Lallana on 71 minutes. Could be set for a big season next term..
Sub: Jerome Sinclair – 6
The youngster was named in the squad ahead of Mario Balotelli, but struggled to influence the contest during his 22-minute cameo.