Steven Gerrard and Brendan Rodgers paid tribute to Jamie Carragher after the brilliant defender brought the curtain down on a stellar 17-year Liverpool career at Anfield.
Liverpool won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Philippe Coutinho, and it was a fitting end for Carragher, who again marshalled the backline well to ensure a clean sheet in the final game of his career.
Reds skipper Gerrard, who watched the game from the stands after undergoing shoulder surgery, said it was a sad day for Liverpool to see a legend like Carragher call time on his career.
"His performance today (Sunday) from start to finish was rock-solid again, as it has been since January when he came back into the team," Gerrard told the club's official website. "He's calling it a day, I'm sure he could go on for a couple more years, but he thinks the time is right and we all need to respect that.
"I certainly share the emotion with the supporters. The club have put a fantastic show on for Jamie today and the guard of honor was emotional because you know it's going to be the last time we'll ever see him perform.
"So it's a sad day but Jamie is walking back with a smile on his face. He has been a fantastic ambassador in playing for this club and it's going to be virtually impossible for the manager to replace him.
"It's going to be difficult for me because I sit next to him on the bus, he's the first person I look for in the dressing room. I'm quite close to Jamie both on and off the pitch.
"It will be strange, it will be tough at times but it happens to us all one day -- it will be me in a few years calling it a day. We all just need to look back and enjoy the great memories he has given us."
Liverpool manager Rodgers admitted he would find it extremely difficult to find a replacement for Carragher in the summer transfer window.
"I don't think there are many about like that, I've got to be honest," he said. "What he's got at this football club is unique. You have to find different ways. All great players, their time comes to an end.
"We've seen it here through the years. You look at Ian Rush when he went away and they brought in John Barnes and Peter Beardsley -- and they brought something else.
"We need to find a good one now to come in and support the group -- and it certainly won't be easy."
Carragher nearly scored a brilliant goal, which would indeed have been the cherry on top of the cake, when a wonderful long-range strike struck the woodwork.
"I think he lent my boots because I'm not playing, either my boots or one of the lads," Gerrard joked.
"We haven't seen that for 20 years, have we? It would have been a fitting point for him to finish -- he scored on his debut -- and what an effort."
