The new-look Red’s, who started the season promisingly and with newfound belief installed into them from Kenny Dalglish, fell to their first defeat at the hands of a tricky Stoke side. The Britannia Stadium continues be a bogey ground for Liverpool, however the decision to award the home team a first half penalty, was robustly challenged by the visitors.
Before resisting a barrage of Stoke efforts, a coming together between Jonathan Walters and Jamie Carragher resulted in Mark Clattenberg pointing to the spot and the Potters front man subsequently converted past Pepe Reina. Carragher and the rest of the Liverpool contingent felt hard done by, as the Britannia’s roof was raised by the ever-present 12th man.
Former Liverpool player, Peter Crouch, made his full Stoke debut against his old employers and started brightly, whilst Luis Suarez continued to impress, making life difficult for the Stoke back-line The feisty Uruguayan made a good connection from a Charlie Adam corner, but saw his shot blocked by the steely figure of Ryan Shawcross.
Kenny Dalglish’s men came out after the break in search of a goal and the visiting faithful must have thought they had one when Suarez’s neatly placed pass put Jordan Henderson through, only to be denied by the brilliance of Asmir Begovic. The Stoke number one did well to stop Henderson’s first effort, the rebound and was agile enough to get back into his goal to tip Adam’s shot over the bar.
The introduction of Craig Bellamy, for his first start back in a red shirt and Andy Carroll was to follow, whilst Wilson Palacios was brought on for Stoke to make his full debut since joining on transfer deadline day.
Liverpool pushed Stoke harder and were edging closer to leveling the game and their second half dominance almost paid off, when Bellamy got onto the end of a Stewart Downing cross, only for a the header to flash wide of the post. A late shout for a penalty from Suarez was waved away by Clattenburg, whilst the Liverpool number seven should have secured at least a point from the game when he failed to convert a gift-wrapped goal.
Begovic, who had been impressive in keeping Liverpool out all game, slipped up in the dying seconds, allowing Suarez a free shot at an open goal. Nobody would have bet on him scuffing the ball wide.
If statistics were anything to go by, Liverpool would have had the game wrapped up by half time. However, as the Reds so painfully learnt last season, games are won by converting chances, regardless of whether refereeing decisions go against you. With a defeat out of the way and being brought back down to reality by Tony Pulis’s side, the new look Merseysiders will look to string a fresh line of wins together. It is these fixtures that Liverpool will be expected to win if they are serious about mounting a genuine challenge for the title and indeed a top four finish. Kenny Dalglish will be hoping his team can learn from the defeat and with White Hart Lane being another bogey ground for the Reds, they had better find some of the spark they started the term with, against Tottenham next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment