Liverpool show strength of character to come through stern test

Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge pushed Liverpool backed into the top four as Brendan Rodgers side registered their first victory at the Britannia Stadium in the Premier League.

Liverpool welcomed back Daniel Sturridge and Glen Johnson back to the squad, with having lost Sakho and Brad Jones to injury with Joe Ward making the bench.

Liverpool hit their straps early taking the lead within five minutes as Cissokho long range drive took a massive deflection off Shawcross leaving Butland wrong footed.

With Lucas playing further up field and Gerrard in the holding role Liverpool were trying to get a grips with Stoke’s robust style sacrificing Gerrard’s creative attacking output for he’s assured nature in front of the back four and using Lucas younger legs in the engine room.

The match seemed well within out control when a piece of Suárez opportunism doubled the lead.   A long punt up field from Skrtel caused panic in the retreating Stoke defence when Wilson headed back with little conviction, Shawcross trying to tidy up only ended up nudging the ball way from Butland.  Suárez instinctively sniffing the chance nipped in to tuck the ball as only a true poacher can.

 

Cissokho and Henderson celebrate Liverpool's opener

In cruise control and with no apparent threat Liverpool proceeded to throw away a two goal advantage to two ex-Liverpool players.  First, with Suárez doubling back to help Johnson they stood off and watched Marko Arnautovic measure his cross to Crouch and the big man, having lost Toure, dispatched a wonderful header into the corner of the net.

Liverpool in state of flux lost the ball from a loose Henderson pass and then stood off as Adams trundled forward and hit a spectacular shot which whistled past the diving Mignolet into the corner of the net.   It was a disappointing end to half and the season at that juncture seemed about to unravel.

As Stoke looked to build on their momentum, Liverpool through the impressive Raheem Sterling earned themselves a penalty.  The winger blocked Wilson’s attempted pass with his arm, raced into the area only to be brought down by the unlucky defender.

Steve Gerrard, embarking on in his 650^th appearance for the club, dispatched his fifth penalty of the season sending Butland the wrong way.

Philippe Coutinho looking a little leggy and not enjoying one of his best games, although working hard, was surprising replaced by the returning Daniel Sturridge with Liverpool in need of some stability in the midfield.  The substitute proved a masterstroke.

Five minutes later the SAS frontline linked up once again to put Liverpool two goals clear.  Sturridge driving on from halfway to the edge of the area, before darting one way and then sending a superb reverse flick the other too Suarez, who opened up his body and curled the ball inside the far past to send the Liverpool fans into euphoric exaltation.

A two goal lead and 19 minutes remaining should have seen Liverpool cantering to the winning post, but with the midfield unable to get any real control and protect the back four with any certainty Stoke were still in the match.

Five minutes from time Stoke were again within one goal when Walters shot inexplicably escape the grasp off Mignolet.

Any nervousness which Liverpool may have felt was wiped away within two minutes.  Sterling who with every passing game is showing different facets of his game, held the ball up superbly before passing to Suárez, who in turn crossed to his striking partner.   Liverpool fans jumped up thinking Sturridge right foot shot had crept in only to realise that Butland had pulled off a stunning reaction save, but he gathered himself chested the ball upwards and then headed the ball to gain control before volleying in on the turn and running away to celebrate in front of the away fans in his own inimitable style.

Man of the match: Luis Suárez – Another fantastic display by the brilliant talismanic striker.  The great thing about Suarez is that he gives everything to the cause week on week.  His goals were from different ends of the spectrum, one a poacher’s goal from the Ian Rush school of instinct and the other from the Thierry Henry school of artistry.

As soon as Daniel Sturridge entered the fray, he moved on to another level seemingly enjoying playing with another player of extreme skill and his celebration with Sturridge after the latter’s flick to set it up was a recognition of its ingenuity.  He returned the favour with a glorious ball to set up Sturridge for his goal.

Critical eye:  Quality players got us out of a bind and if Gerrard is to play in the holding role, we really need a top-class midfield to strengthen the spine of the team and it may mean that Lucas takes on a peripheral role.

The ease which Charlie Adam went past Cissokho time and again shows that Cissokho has no long-term future and highlights the need for a new left-back.

In just 25 minutes on the pitch, Sturridge reminded us of his excellent partnership with Suarez, but also how Coutinho’s final ball is not yet top grade as he invariably over or under hits his passes.  He gets into some excellent positions, but often fails to hit the target or shoots straight at the keeper as he did with his volley in the first half.

Mignolet looks to have lost confidence in coming to claim the ball, resorting to punching the ball when a catch would suffice and it’s manifesting itself in his shot-stopping.   

The sooner Sakho returns to the fray with his pace and aerial ability the better.

Team:

Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson, 20 Cissokho, 8 Gerrard, 37 Skrtel, 4 Kolo Toure, 14 Henderson, 21 Lucas, 7 Suárez, 31 Sterling, 10 Coutinho (Sturridge – 66 mins)

Substitutes:  52 Ward, 9 Iago Aspas, 12 Moses, 15 Sturridge, 33 Ibe, 34 Kelly, 52 Ward

Stoke: 22 Butland, 20 Cameron, 3 Pieters, 15 N’Zonzi (Ireland – 81 mins), 17 Shawcross, 12 Wilson, 19 Walters, 6 Whelan, 25 Crouch, 16 Adam, 10 Araautovic

Substitutes: 5 Muniesa, 7 Pennant, 8 Palacios, 26 Etherington, 29 Sorenson, 30 Shotton, 32 Ireland

Referee: Anthony Taylor

 
Attendance: 27, 160