By ADAM TROXTELL
With just a few games remaining before he leaves for MLS, Steven Gerrard is making his time count at Liverpool.
The captain struck for the Reds just before halftime to produce a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. While Gerrard’s effort prevented a loss, Liverpool had to win this game to retain a realistic chance of securing a UEFA Champions League spot.
Another veteran of the English game, John Terry, opened the scoring for Chelsea by heading in Cesc Fabregas’ corner kick in just the fifth minute. The Blues have already been crowned champions this season and used the opportunity to blood 19-year-old midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
While Chelsea did appear intent on winning, Gerrard prevented that by arriving back post to head in Jordan Henderson’s free kick. It was the LA Galaxy-bound man’s eighth goal of the season.
Elsewhere, former Liverpool and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres was also active today, netting the equalizer for Atletico Madrid against Levante. Parma held Napoli in Serie A, while Saint Etienne routed Nice in France.
Here is more from Sunday’s action across the top leagues in Europe:
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
As a frustrating campaign comes to a close, Manchester City took out some anger on lowly QPR.
The Citizens romped to a 6-0 win over their London visitors, meaning QPR joins Burnley as the clubs to be relegated from the Premier League this season. Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick for Man City, taking his goal total for the season to 31.
Number 29 came just four minutes into the game when Aguero carried the ball into the box and lifted his shot over Rob Green. Aleksandar Kolarov made it two with a 32nd minute free kick.
David Silva then set up Aguero for Man City’s third shortly after halftime before the Argentine converted a penalty kick to complete his hat-trick. Silva and James Milnenr added two more in the final 20 minutes to see QPR out.
SPANISH PRIMERA DIVISION
Atletico Madrid avoided potential embarrassment on Sunday, thanks to Fernando Torres.
The striker’s 80th minute goal led to a 2-2 draw against relegation-candidates Levante, keeping Atletico in prime position to remain in La Liga’s top four. Torres jumped in front of everyone at the near post to head in Koke’s corner kick for his fourth league goal this season.
Atletico had already responded to Levante’s lead in the first half. David Barral gave the home side an unexpected 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute before left back Guilherme Siqueira equalized three minutes later.
Kalu Uche then put Levante back ahead in the 63rd minute before Torres’ intervention. With two games remaining, Levante sits four points away from the relegation zone.
Villarreal is now assured of sixth place after beating Elche 1-0. The Yellow Submarine is now seven points clear of seventh place Malaga, who also won, 2-1, against Almeria.
ITALIAN SERIE A
With three games remaining, Inter Milan is, mathematically, not ruled out in the top-four chase.
Inter is now just eight points behind fourth place after coming back in a 2-1 win against Lazio. Hernanes scored twice as Inter stretched its unbeaten streak to seven games.
Antonio Candreva opened the scoring in the eighth minute for Lazio, who is attempting to chase down city rivals Roma for second place. A free kick from Hernanes provided the equalizer, and Inter could have had the winner much earlier.
Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti was sent off for bringing down Mauro Icardi in the box, taking the Roman club down to nine men after Mauricio was sent off in the first half. The young Argentine stepped up to take the ensuing penalty, but substitute goalkeeper Etrit Berisha deflected it wide to keep things level.
With six minutes to go, Hernanes was played through the Lazio back line to provide the winning goal.
Elsewhere, Fiorentina added some pressure to fourth-place Napoli’s top-four hopes in a 3-2 win against Empoli. Jospi Ilicic struck in the 68th minute for a two-goal Viola advantage that Empoli was unable to completely eliminate.
Napoli subsequently drew, 2-2 with relegated Parma. Dries Mertens had to pop up in the 72nd minute to ensure Napoli avoided defeat.
Here are the results from Italy:
Chievo 2, Hellas Verona 2
Cesena 2, Sassuolo 3
Palermo 2, Atalanta 3
Udinese 1, Sampdoria 4
Empoli 2, Fiorentina 3
Parma 2, Napoli 2
Lazio , Inter
FRENCH LIGUE 1
Saint Etienne staked a strong claim to Ligue 1’s automatic Europa League qualification spot, but Marseille won’t back off.
Five different players scored in a 5-0 rout of Nice. Loic Perrin and Jeremy Clement scored in the first half, while Max-Alain Gradel and Kevin Monnet-Paquet scored within four minutes of each other to complete the rout.
It looked like the overwhelming win would put Saint Etienne alone in fourth place, but Marseille changed all of that later in the day. Andre Ayew and Romain Alessandrini scored in the final eleven minutes for a 2-1 win against third-place Monaco.
Joao Moutinho’s first minute strike looked like it might hold up and seriously dent Marseille’s Champions League hopes. The late strikes keep Marcelo Bielsa’s side within two points of Monaco with two games remaining.
Elsewhere, Anthony Mounier’s stoppage time winner took Montpellier past Lens, 1-0.
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
Wolfsburg kept Paderborn in the thick of a relegation scrap with a 3-1 win on Sunday.
Bas Dost added his 17th and 18th goals of the season in the victory, which keeps Wolfsburg in second place in the Bundesliga.
Koln assured its safety with a 2-0 win against Schalke that takes the club to 10th place, eight points clear of the relegation zone.