You'll have plenty to celebrate when you subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Jamie Carragher thanked Liverpool FC fans for giving him the perfect farewell as he admitted: “It’s a day I’ll never forget.”

The 35-year-old centre-back made his 737th and final appearance for the Reds in their 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers at Anfield.

Carragher was substituted late on to a huge ovation before returning to the pitch after the final whistle for an emotional lap of honour.

“It was brilliant. I want to thank the supporters who gave me such a great send-off,” Carragher said.

“It’s much appreciated. It’s a day I’ll never forget. I’ve been playing here a long time and it’s sad to think I’ll never play at this stadium again in a competitive game. But it has to come to an end at some stage and I’ve got some great memories.

“I just wanted to make sure we won the game. I didn’t want to finish with a defeat or a poor performance.

“It was emotional but I don’t really show it. We had a job to do. It was nice to get a win, not just for myself but for the manager and the players to take into next season because we’ve been on a decent run.”

Philippe Coutinho’s strike secured the points but Carragher was just inches away from adding to the Reds’ account with a stunning long-range effort in the second half.

The defender, who scored the last of his five goals for Liverpool in 2008, rattled the post from 30 yards out.

“I scored on my full debut and it would have been nice to finish with a goal,” he added. “The lads were urging me to score and the crowd were shouting ‘shoot’ every time I had the ball anywhere on the pitch.

“I was near the edge of the box and had a crack. I thought it was in. After 16 years it looks like I’m just getting the hang of shooting! But I wasn’t really thinking about getting a goal. I was more concerned with doing my job – keeping a clean sheet and winning the game. We did that so I’m happy.”

Ian Callaghan, the only player in Liverpool’s history who has made more appearances than Carragher, presented him with a golden 23 for his 16 years of first-team service.

“Jamie is a legend and one of the greatest players ever to have played for Liverpool,” Callaghan said.

“He’s a fantastic ambassador for this club and besides that he’s a fantastic guy.”