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Coutinho strike gives Liverpool win

Coutinho strike gives Liverpool win
© Peter Byrne / PA Photos
Liverpool beat Queens Park Rangers 1-0 in Jamie Carragher's final game for the club.

Jamie Carragher's Liverpool career ended with a 1-0 win against Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League, courtesy of a first-half strike from Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazilian thought that he had given the home side the lead inside two minutes, but referee Martin Atkinson waved away Liverpool's claims despite replays showing that the ball had crossed the line.

Coutinho did open the scoring after 30 minutes, though, after good work from debutant Jordan Ibe. The 17-year-old slipped the ball to Coutinho, who drove a shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

For all of Liverpool's dominance, Bobby Zamora had a good chance to level the scores. A low cross eluded Martin Skrtel, but Zamora wasn't expecting the ball and Liverpool smuggled it clear.

Esteban Granero replaced Stephan Mbia at half time, but Liverpool continued to carve out chances.

Glen Johnson raced down the right flank and fired a shot towards goal, which Robert Green did well to save after it had taken a big deflection off Shaun Derry.

Minutes later, Jamie Carragher almost got the most unlikely of goals in his final appearance for the club. The centre-back picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and sent a crashing drive towards the top corner. The Anfield crowd rose as one to celebrate, but his shot cannoned back off the upright to deny him a fairytale ending to his Liverpool career.

Liverpool continued to pepper the QPR goal, but a combination of wayward shooting and smart saves from Robert Green maintained the one-goal margin.

As the game approached injury time, Jamie Carragher left the field to a standing ovation as his 737th and final appearance for the club came to a close.

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A general shot of a Premier League football ahead of the Premier League clash between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 30, 2016
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