I must say that it was the most pulsating Premiership game I've seen all season. This tops the Merseyside Derby v1.0 earlier this season in my opinion. It was end-to-end stuff and the momentum swung from end to end like a pendulum.

My player ratings :-

Simon Mignolet (6) - Could not do much about the goals he conceded. Saw all of them really late as two efforts came from between the legs of defenders and the other was planted in the far corner by an impressive Peter Crouch. A couple of routine saves but exceptional reflexes to keep out Gerrard's effort! Suspect in the air again in the land of the giants as Shawcross and Crouch constantly looked to unsettle him during setpieces.

Glen Johnson (5) - Wasteful. Lost possession on a number of occasions but either misplacing a pass or having the ball nicked off him when trying to dribble past opposition defenders.

Cissokho (5) - I don't remember a time he actually beat a player. Offered very little going forward. He was also constantly caught out of position at the back. His most significant contribution that I can remember was winning a towering header against Jon Walters.

Martin Skrtel (6) - Should have been penalised for dragging Shawcross to ground. Once again, he started the game by molesting Stoke forwards. Got better as the game wore on, winning a couple of crucial headers and making some important clearances. Was at fault for standing of Charlie Adam which led to a goal.

Kolo Toure (6) - Solid at the back and tried to bring the ball out on a number of occasions and Stevie was playing deep enough to cover the centreback position. Overall, he dealt pretty well with Stoke's aerial assault considering he was marking a bloke half a foot taller than him. Still he lost Crouch which led to a goal, and he was slow to close down Walters which led to another goal.

Steven Gerrard (6) - Had an average game by his standards. For the first time, he was the deepest of our midfield trio with Lucas taking up a more advanced role. Tenacious defensively but misplaced numerous passes when our lads were forward leaving us pretty exposed when Stoke hit us on the counter. This is where he needs to discipline himself a little, and not always look for the long, killer pass. Rather, he needs to work on passing the ball about with Henderson and Lucas.

Jordan Henderson (6) - It was his error that led to Charlie Adam's goal as he tapped the ball back into the path of the Scotsman. Else, he had an average game playing second fiddle once again to the deep lying Steven Gerrard. Drifted wide left to accommodate Sturridge in the end. Had one left footed effort fly high and wide. Can't help but feel he fades a little each time Stevie is on the field.

Lucas (6) - Spent more time in the opposition half than in previous games but to be honest, I don't remember seeing much of him.

Coutinho (6) - The lad is a wizard on the ball and has a keen eye for spotting cracks in defenses but his finishing is woeful. Scuppered his best opportunity by hitting it straight at Butland after some good build up play from the team. Faded as the game wore on having to spend most of his time defending.

Sterling (7) - Was a constant thorn in Pieter's side. Tormented him time and time again with a mixture of speed and trickery. Looks to be back to his best recently after the boss told him to sort out his personal issues. Went down a little easy to earn us a penalty but if you look at the replay, Wilson actually checked his hip and not his legs and this was always likely to send a wee lad half his size, flying.

Suarez (9) - Hardly put a foot wrong. At some points during the game, Stoke players must have mistaken him for the football. Took the hits, but kept on coming. Already run out of superlatives to describe him. Brilliant finish after his BFF set him up but it was his first goal that exemplifies just how hard Suarez works. He never ever gives up on a ball. Complete performance from his as he also dropped deep to help out in defence. At one point, I saw him at rightback, helping out Johnson.

Sturridge (8) - What a way to mark his comeback from injury with a goal and an assist. Brilliant save from Butland to keep out his first effort but good determination and control shown to first chest the ball, then heading it down onto his left foot, before finally driving it into the bottom corner. Nice to see SAS back to it's best.

Overall it was a game littered with defensive errors and we were almost punished for missing out on some gilt edged opportunities but in the end, we scored 5 goals against a team we hadn't beaten at home for 29 years, sending them to only their 2nd home defeat of the season. We've now done the double over Stoke this season.

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Jan 13 2014, 11:32 AM

please plan your "round" next time ok


Maybe it was soft penalty. But looking from angle of camera behind the goal, the contact was enough to warrant penalty.

Like what I read in ESPN, the header was just to show that Mignolet is still top class keeper lol

like BR said..its a spanish penalty

I'm not sure what BR strategy yesterday to play SG and Lucas as DM, the team seems like lack of creativity. I prefer to play either one of them and put Alberto or Allen to move forward. I just miss how good we were to play against spurs. Again I still believe Gerrard should be rested and give chance to other lads to play. I'm not sure how important he is to the team besides his long pass.

I'm quiet impressed with sterling as he showed how committed he is to get pass through Stoke defender with his physical ability. Most of the time, he just being out muscled but he's not give up though I agree that it should not be a penalty. It looks soft to me and he fall down easily becoz of his lightweight physical.

Overall, breathtaking performance and what a win against Stoke at their home ground. YNWA.

That's old PL format in the early days

How can you forget his contribution for the first goal.

Other than that I agreed with the rate given

Duke's wearing tinted glasses.

yes he has mastered Lampard deflection technique

actually gerrard did some good tackle in the early part of game, but faded away after concede the 1st goal.

i think the reason BR put gerrard in the deepest role because his aerial battle is better than lucas, n he did won few of them in the early part

when allen is fit, i would still hope the 1-2 midfield is including gerrard, with him in the deepest role, gerrard - henderson+allen

but the problem i saw so far is henderson always below par when gerrard is on the pitch

for the defense part im not too worry about it, because 3 of 4 of the starting defender were not our 1st choice, which shud b improve after enrique n sakho is back in few weeks time.

johnson seriously is painful to watch sometime.

Yesterday's match gave me mini heart attacks. Thank goodness we have Suarez. Not sure how many times I've said that this season. The team's performance was average. Relied a lot on Suarez to make things happen going forward.

LOL I stand corrected! Yes, superb calculated deflection shot. Must have been a physics major.

Good performance.. but I would say.. defence got to better.. even 1 goal lead looks like we will conceed..

We took the lead fortuitously and Stoke responded with a series of aerial bombardments as they tried to reenact Pearl Harbour. If memory serves me, we earned our first corner kick only in the second half. We did let them back into the game but on a positive note, the team responded and fought back. We didn't buckle and fold as we did in the past. If anything this was a highly motivating win.

Stoke City vs Liverpool motd highlight

Agreed, especially the bolded part. It has been ages since I see the team chased back a victory after falling down to opposing goals. The mentality of a champion; not staying down after getting hit - I truly hope this stays as the mark of change in the team.

the best fullbacks we have is
enrique>flanagan>>>>>>>>>>>johno-cissokho

best cbs
sakho-agger>>>>>skrtel>toure>coates>kelly

and those wisdom,robinson,kelly

wow so many defensive options yet only sakho,agger,flanagan n enrique are class.

compared this to attacking force

suarez>sturo>>>>>>aspas

wingers

sterling>moses>ibe

AM

coutinho>hendo

and got suso,assaidi,borini on loan,scoring goals as well



This post has been edited by K.H.A.I: Jan 13 2014, 11:57 AM

I cringe my teeth whenever Stoke has a set piece. They are the strongest in the air and to add to that, Mignolet great reflexes but clumsy on his feet and doesn't have the confidence to catch the ball.

every time any teams cross/set piece i sh1t on my pants..no confidence at all

how many pants u changed yesterday?

countless