Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha apologised to Steven Gerrard after his second half goal ruined the Liverpool skipper’s Anfield farewell.

Substitute Zaha was on the pitch a matter of seconds when he connected with a Yannick Bolasie cross to fire the Eagles 2-1 ahead.

The afternoon had started well for Gerrard’s Reds when Adam Lallana made the most of a Martin Kelly mistake to open the scoring.

However, Jason Puncheon had the Eagles level before the break, and Glenn Murray came off the bench to hammer in the final nail in the coffin in injury time for 3-1.

Zaha’s goal was the simplest of chances, but it owed a lot to some words of encouragement from boss Alan Pardew just before he entered the action.

The 22-year-old said: “I’ll never get an easier chance than that so I’m a happy man.

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“I’m buzzing. The gaffer told me: ‘Everyone’s tired now so go on and run them ragged’, so that’s what I did, well I tried to anyway.

“I’m sorry to mess up Gerrard’s last game, but I think we needed a win after the performances we have had recently - I’m happy.”

With the Eagles now sitting 12th in the Premier League table on 45 points, the boys from SE25 go into their final match of the season at home against Swansea on Sunday looking to catch Everton in 10th or West Ham United in 11th - both on 47 points.

“Everyone’s buzzing really,” said Zaha, about ending a run of four consecutive league losses and the strength of the Eagles attack.

“Jason Puncheon’s had a great game today - I can’t really say anything more about him.

“We accomplished what we wanted to accomplish - the gaffer came in, he wanted us to get a couple of points and make sure we’re staying in the Premier League.

“We’ve managed to do what he wanted so everyone’s happy.”