Steven Gerrard's Liverpool farewell is in danger of ending in humiliation after Stoke City raced into a 5-0 lead by the half-time interval at the Britannia Stadium.

Charlie Adam fired the first real meaningful effort at goal and the ex-Liverpool man hit a strike from around 30 yards out that fizzed just over inside the first five minutes.

Marko Arnautovic's raking diagonal pass almost put Jonathan Walters through on goal, but Alberto Moreno did well to thwart the striker.

Philippe Coutinho wasted a good opening for the visitors when he blazed high over the bar after being played through by Gerrard.

Adam again was quick to try his luck from range, but once again the Scotland international's 30-yard effort flew over the bar on 18 minutes.

However, the Potters did take the lead shortly after when Mame Biram Diouf pounced on a rebound after Simon Mignolet had parried Adam's initial shot on the edge of the box.

Diouf doubled his tally for the afternoon four minutes later when he blasted the ball into the roof of the net.

Walters then piled further misery on the Reds on the half-hour mark when he nodded home from close range, after Emre Can could only head Adam's cross back towards his own goal.

Adam finally got his goal four minutes before the break with a low shot, before Steven Nzonzi netted on the cusp of the interval to leave Brendan Rodgers's side in disarray.