Mignolet saves penalty as Liverpool up and running

A year ago four of us trudged away from The Hawthorns already fully aware that we in for a long season.  It was almost the end of what had been a traumatic day after nearly being fried in the back of dedlfc’s car on one of the hottest days of the year, when hit by road works, dedlfc summarily announced on the motorway that the car’s air conditioning was on the blink!

Today with the start of the new season finally upon us one sensed the excitement was there as usual, but expectations was under-control given the relative purchases compared to those of the likes of Man City and especially Spurs and with Luis Suarez watching on with family in toe.

At the end of the game relief was the order of the day.  Our possession and chances may not have related to the goals we deserved and that Simon Mignolet fantastically saved us with a last minute penalty save, but there is no point being churlish, we our off the mark and sometimes reality is the best medicine.  Yes, the same problems remain, that of the defensive frailties against set pieces, a lack of a real combative edge in midfield, but on the flipside we created a plethora of chances and Daniel Sturride got off the mark by scoring the winning goal.

As is our way under Brendan Rodgers we set the tone of the match by controlling possession, but there was nothing of note until Stoke broke away and from a resultant Whelan corner Mignolet flapped and we were fortunate to see Huth’s volley crash against the bar.

Liverpool were stung into action with first, Sturridge having a headed goal chalked for straying just offside and then from a Gerrard corner a towering Toure header smashed against the bar with Daniel Sturridge blazing over from close range.

The magical Countinho always prompting and probing, found the marauding Enrique at the top of his run, the left-back played a superb one-two with Aspas, unluckily seeing his shot superbly smothered by Begovic. Another sumptuous move orchestrated by the young Brazilian, after Toure had ran the ball out of defence, saw Henderson on a typical run hit his shot straight at the imperious Stoke City goalkeeper.

It would take a stunning strike to beat the brilliant Bosnian and Daniel Sturridge provided it.  His 20 yard drive from a standing position with very little back lift ripped between Robert Huth’s legs leaving Begovic with no chance as it nestled in the corner of the net.

Sturridge provided another devasting strike

It was no more than Liverpool’s creativity and possession deserved, but Stoke were still dangerous and Mignolet pulled off a fine sprawling save from Walters snap shot.

The start of the second half was no different from the first as we were in full control, with Coutinho controlling the tempo of Liverpool’s attacks as if he and he alone was playing to the Bosa Nova sounds of Gilberto Gil.  He ghosted after the ball from just inside the Stoke half and searing into the area guided his shot just past the post.

He again sauntered in the area, cutting the ball back to Sturridge, whose miskick only managed to divert the ball into the path of the onrushing Henderson who saw his shot tipped around the post.  Enjoying a ten minute purple patch Coutinho found Sturridge with a slide-rule pass to him scoot away and see his shot pushed against the outside of the post by Begovic.  Gerrard’s resultant corner found the unmarked Aspas whose flicked header flashed past the upright.

The effervescent Aspas who showed up well for the ball all afternoon, linked up well with Henderson and found the ex-Sunderland midfielder bursting in the area only to see his goal bound shot pushed against the post by Stoke’s keeper.  Steven Gerrard’s powerful 35-yard free-kick was tipped over by Begovic and charistically he was again in the right place to block Glen Johnson as the right-black looked to score from close range.

Ex-Liverpool old boy Charlie Adam almost brought Stoke back on level-terms when he produced a stunning bit of skill to almost chip Mignolet from half-way, only for the new Liverpool keeper to scuttle back and flip the ball over the bar.

With Liverpool’s dominance not been converted into goals the possibility of a late smash ‘n’ grab was always possible and it came as no surprise when a minute from time Stoke were awarded a penalty as we again succumbed to a set piece.  Mignolet, has Pepe Reina, had done so often in his Liverpool career guessed the right way and brilliantly saved Jones follow-up shot to send the home fans home happy.

Man of The Match:  Philippe Coutinho – sent the tempo and has become the Liverpool conductor elect, taking over from Steven Gerrard.  The best moments stemmed from his mercurial feet, whether he was driving from deep or drifting in from the left he committed defenders or got them off balance before releasing devastating passes often licking up as in the end of last season with Sturridge and Enrique.

Aspas was impressive with a debut full of running and offered support to colleagues, with unselfish running in the channels and holding up the ball.  An excellent piece of link up play with Henderson also brought a goal and he himself almost got on the score sheet with an excellent flicked header across the goal. 

Critcal Eye:  Pure and simple we have to finish sides off (26 shots, 1 goal) or else we leave ourselves open, as we almost found to our cost today, to late flourishes from the opposition.

But three points is three points.

Team: 22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson, 3 Enrique, 4 Toure, 5 Agger, 8 Gerrard, 9 Aspas (Sterling, 72 mins), 10 Coutinho, 14 Henderson, 21 Lucas, 15 Sturridge

Substitutes: 1 Jones, 47 Wisdom, 6 Alberto, 31 Sterling, 33 Ibe, 29 Borini

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Attendance: 44,822