The 35-year-old was sad to realise that Sunday’s 1-0 victory over QPR will be the last time that he plays competitvely at Anfield as he officially retires from football

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher admits that he got “emotional” during his 737th and last game for the club.

The 35-year-old was substituted to a rousing reception after 85 minutes of Sunday’s 1-0 victory over relegated QPR, in which Philippe Coutinho scored the only goal.

“I’m not the type to get too emotional but it is emotional,” Carragher told the club’s official website after the match. “I’ve got friends and family in the stand. I just wanted to concentrate on the game, we got the win that we wanted and I’ll go and enjoy myself now.”

The defender almost marked his final game with a goal, rattling the woodwork with a spectacular long-range drive. “I’ll have to watch it again,” he noted. “I thought it was in but it’s one of those things – it gives everyone something to talk about.”

“I’ve been playing here a long time and it’s sad to think that I’ll never be playing here again in a competitive game but it has to come to an end at some stage and I’ve got some great memories.”

Manager Brendan Rodgers was glowing in his praise for the defender, enthusing: “He’s been incredible, every word since the day he said he was going to retire that’s been said about him, what we wanted to make sure is that we finished him off with a win because he’s a winner.”

“He’s a colossus player for this club and he nearly got a goal which is incredible, so it’s a good day all round.

“We finish the season with seven wins, four draws and a defeat, so hopefully we can continue with that consistency next season.

“It’s been a difficult season for the supporters,” Rodgers conceded. “There’s been some disappointments but a lot of delight on the way as well but today we got the win and this was a day about Carra and we wanted to send him off with a win, so we’re absolutely delighted.”