Georginio Wijnaldum’s opener was his sixth goal of the season for Liverpool Liverpool secured their Champions League return as their initial nerves turned to celebration and relegated Middlesbrough crumbled at Anfield. With top-four rivals arsenal ahead at Everton, Liverpool were impotent in assail and twitchy at the back for most of the first half.
Reading: Liverpool 3-0 Middlesbrough
But Georginio Wijnaldum eased the tension in injury time, bursting into the box and smash in a cutthroat tear at the near post. Philippe Coutinho ‘s low curling free-kick six minutes into the second half was quickly followed by Adam Lallana slotting in to give the Reds a comfortable cushion to ride extinct to full-time. With Manchester City slam dance Watford, Liverpool finished fourthly in the final Premier League mesa and will have to negotiate Champions League qualifying at the startle of next season .
A season in microcosm
Jurgen Klopp took charge at Liverpool in October 2015 Manager Jurgen Klopp had a beaming smile on the concluding whistle as he congratulated his players, but his team ‘s display – in battlefront of a watch owner John W Henry – underlined the need for further investment as they prepare to step up to Europe ‘s top table for the first time since 2014-15. That campaign ended in the group stages as Brendan Rodgers ‘ side – with amulet Luis Suarez sold to Barcelona – were found deficient. If they play like they did in Sunday ‘s first half, the same destine will be the best this adaptation can hope for. As so much this season, Liverpool ‘s attackers seemed stumped by deep-lying enemy and the cushy center of their defense was closely exposed when Patrick Bamford got the wrong side of Dejan Lovren and had a strong claim for a penalty denied. But Wijnaldum ‘s powerful opener changed the climate both in the stands and on the pitch. The interplay between Roberto Firmino, Coutinho and Lallana in the second half was near to the scintillating best that they have produced in this campaign. They surely need additions to recreate that class more systematically and on bigger stages next temper, but Klopp ‘s side collected an impressive 76 points and finished above Arsenal and Manchester United in his first full season in charge. “ I think it does qualify as a successful season. They set out to reach the Champions League and from a league distributor point of scene they ‘ve achieved that. They ‘ll be bigger and better adjacent season, ” Match of the Day initiate Alan Shearer said .Wonderful day for Liverpool – Klopp
Nothing to discuss – Sturridge
Sturridge finishes the season with eight goals for Liverpool Daniel Sturridge is the concluding remain part of the attacking trio that drove Liverpool close to the Premier League title two seasons ago. But after an injury-blighted couple of campaigns and doubts over whether he can find a place in Klopp ‘s high-tempo gameplan, it had been suggested he might follow Suarez and Raheem Sterling out of the club .
Sturridge had five shots, coming close, but not hitting the target with any…
…however he had fewer touches (36) and ran a shorter overall distance (8.93km) than any other outfield starter for Liverpool Starting consecutive Premier League games for the first meter since September, he added an extra property to Liverpool ‘s play with clever movement, a constant penalty-box presence and ability to get a shoot away. He came closer than any Liverpool player to scoring in the first 45 minutes with a shoot good wide, applauded the fans as he headed off with eight to go and exchanged an embrace with Klopp on his manner to the bench. “ There is nothing to discuss truly, ” he told Sky Sports, when asked after the match if he would still be at Liverpool following season. “ I have two years left on my deal and I am glad here. ”
Boro concentrate on rebuilding job
While Liverpool prepare for the Champions League, Middlesbrough have the different challenge of life in the Championship adjacent season. Chairman Steve Gibson has been bullish about the hypothesis of an immediate render, saying earlier in the week that he aimed to “ smash the league ” and return as champions. A depart survival without likely summer departures Alvaro Negredo, Marten de Roon and Adama Traore suggested that caretaker Steve Agnew is already concentrating on the future campaign. solidly run off the flip external-link angstrom well as unhesitating on it, Boro are well set to back up their president ‘s promise, particularly if Gibson can convince his centre-back nephew Ben to stick with the club in the second tier .Stability key to Middlesbrough revival – Agnew
Man of the match – Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s go-to man for inspiration and invention had 132 touches and five shots, with three on target. No team-mate managed more in any of those statistics.
‘A wonderful base for next season’ – Klopp
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: “ We worked hard to get the first goal. We got more convinced. We then scored from the free-kick and got even more confident. “ The boys then played some fantastic football. I ‘m actually looking forth to future temper. I think we have created a fantastic base. The better you ‘re organised, the more you feel loose to do extra things in discourtesy. “ I ‘m actually happy about this – what a fantastic day. ” Middlesbrough caretaker boss Steve Agnew: “ Liverpool have some top-class players and you wait for moments like that Patrick Bamford penalty exclaim and that did not go our way. “ It has been a difficult season and the penetrate line is that we have not scored adequate goals or won enough games. We need to use this summer to reflect and work out what we need to do to come back. “ The chair is the best in my opinion and I ‘m certain that talks will be progressing over the future few weeks about the future of the club. ”
O Magico pulls the strings – the stats you need to know
- Liverpool have finished in the lead four of the Premier League for only the second time in the past eight seasons .
- Philippe Coutinho has had a hand in 20 Premier League goals for Liverpool this season, more than any other musician ( 13 goals, seven assists ) .
- Coutinho has scored 15 Premier League goals from outside the area, more than any early actor .
- Middlesbrough are one of three teams to visit Anfield on 10 or more occasions in the Premier League without winning ( Sunderland – 16, Middlesbrough – 15 and Bolton – 13 ) .
- All 17 of Georginio Wijnaldum ‘s Premier League goals have been scored in home games ( six at Anfield and 11 at St James ‘ Park ) .
- Middlesbrough won just 28 points this temper, their worst return in a Premier League season .
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Liverpool
formation 4-1-2-1-2
22
Mignolet
2
Clyne
32
Matip
6
Lovren
7
Milner
23
Can
5
Wijnaldum
10
Coutinho
20
Lallana
11
Firmino
15
Sturridge
- 22
Mignolet
- 2
Clyne
- 32
Matip
- 6
Lovren
- 7
Milner
Substituted for
Moreno
at
86′
minutes
- 23
Can
- 5
Wijnaldum
- 10
Coutinho
- 20
Lallana
- 11
Firmino
Substituted for
Leiva
at
79′
minutes
- 15
Sturridge
Substituted for
Origi
at
82′
minutes
Substitutes
- 1
Karius
- 16
Grujic
- 17
Klavan
- 18
Moreno
- 21
Leiva
- 27
Origi
- 66
Alexander-Arnold
Middlesbrough
formation 4-3-3
12
Guzan
2
da Silva
25
Chambers
6
Gibson
3
Friend
Read more: France national football team
7
Leadbitter
8
Clayton
34
Forshaw
20
Bamford
29
Gestede
19
Downing
- 12
Guzan
- 2
da Silva
Substituted for
Ayala
at
73′
minutes
- 25
Chambers
- 6
Gibson
- 3
Friend
- 7
Leadbitter
- 8
Clayton
- 34
Forshaw
- 20
Bamford
- 29
Gestede
Booked at 56mins
Substituted for
Negredo
at
73′
minutes
- 19
Downing
Substitutes
- 1
Konstantopoulos
- 4
Ayala
- 5
Bernardo
- 10
Negredo
- 11
Fischer
- 14
de Roon
- 18
Stuani
- Referee:
- Martin Atkinson
- Attendance:
- 53,191
Match Stats
Live Text
-
Post update
Match ends, Liverpool 3, Middlesbrough 0 .
-
Full Time
second Half ends, Liverpool 3, Middlesbrough 0 .
-
Post update
Foul by Emre Can ( Liverpool ) .
-
Post update
Adam Forshaw ( Middlesbrough ) wins a free kick in the assail half .
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Post update
Attempt saved. Adam Forshaw ( Middlesbrough ) right footed nip from outside the box is saved in the concentrate of the finish .
-
Post update
Foul by Lucas Leiva ( Liverpool ) .
-
Post update
Patrick Bamford ( Middlesbrough ) wins a free kick in the defensive half .
-
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Grant Leadbitter .
-
Post update
Lucas Leiva ( Liverpool ) wins a free complain in the defensive half .
-
Post update
Foul by Adam Clayton ( Middlesbrough ) .
-
Substitution
substitution, Liverpool. Alberto Moreno replaces James Milner .
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Substitution
substitution, Liverpool. Divock Origi replaces Daniel Sturridge .
-
Post update
undertake missed. Adam Forshaw ( Middlesbrough ) right footed tear from the center of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Álvaro Negredo with a through ball .
-
Substitution
substitution, Liverpool. Lucas Leiva replaces Roberto Firmino .
-
Post update
Attempt saved. Emre Can ( Liverpool ) right footed shot from the veracious slope of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Adam Lallana .
-
Post update
undertake blocked. Daniel Sturridge ( Liverpool ) left footed shot from the kernel of the box is blocked. Assisted by Roberto Firmino .
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Substitution
substitution, Middlesbrough. Álvaro Negredo replaces Rudy Gestede .
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Substitution
substitution, Middlesbrough. Daniel Ayala replaces Fabio .
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Post update
undertake missed. Daniel Sturridge ( Liverpool ) left footed shoot from outside the box misses to the leave. Assisted by Emre Can .
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Post update
Attempt saved. Adam Lallana ( Liverpool ) right footed snapshot from outside the box is saved in the top leave corner. Assisted by Georginio Wijnaldum .
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