Liverpool--Brendan Rodgers claimed Steven Gerrard will prove irreplaceable after the Liverpool captain marked his penultimate appearance at Anfield with the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over QPR.
Gerrard missed a penalty in the closing stages but recovered his composure in time to head home his 184th goal for the club in the 87th minute, lifting him up to fifth place in Liverpool's list of all-time goalscorers.
The 34-year-old has now just one more home game to go before he ends his 16-year first-team career at Liverpool to join LA Galaxy in the United States and Reds boss Rodgers was quick to pay tribute to his departing star.
"A lot of players when they miss a big penalty their game goes and their confidence goes. He is the total opposite. He is one of a unique group of players that when they need to respond, they do," Rodgers said.
"It is a world-class talent. There is a very, very small group of players in that bracket where in the big games they score the big goals and make the big contributions and he has done that throughout his career.
"He missed a penalty and you think it may go against us but there was no one more determined to make up for it."
Former England captain Gerrard was substituted to a standing ovation shortly after scoring the goal that keeps Liverpool fifth in the Premier League and which also certainly consigns QPR to relegation.
"It was brilliant to get it at the Kop end as well. A real special moment for him," added Rodgers.
"You can see he is still contributing at this level. There were people behind me shouting to get him off. I knew if you keep him on, you have every chance of getting a goal.
"This is a guy that you cannot replace. He is an incredible talent. It will probably only be when he is gone that people will recognise what a talent he is."
AFP
