Premier League - Stoke frustrate Liverpool

Eurosport - Sun, 21 Sep 11:09:00 2008

Liverpool were held to a surprise goalless draw by Stoke in a Premier League game short on at entertainment at Anfield.

2008-2008 Liverpool Fernando Torres Robbie Keane - 0

Optimism was high on Merseyside following last weekend's victory over champions Manchester United, but Liverpool fans were brought back down to earth with a bang after witnessing a dire 90 minutes of football.

Despite dominating possession from start to finish, Liverpool ultimately lacked the nous to break down a resolute Potters defence - something that will be of concern to Rafa Benitez, who surely knows his team must figure out ways to beat the likes of Stoke if they are become real championship contenders.

Even though they added nothing at all to the game as a spectacle - save the odd moment of excitement when Rory Delap was given the opportunity to sling in a long throw - Stoke deserved credit for emerging with a point.

Tony Pulis's side came to Anfield without any delusions of grandeur and they set out to do little more than frustrate Liverpool - a goal they achieved with a no-frills, hard-working and rugged defensive display.

Stoke's lack of ambition going forward was matched only by Liverpool's inability to finish at the other end, although the hosts could count themselves unlucky not to have taken the lead soon after kick-off.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, searching for his 100th goal, had the ball in the back of the net as early as the second minute, but his effort direct from a free-kick was chalked off.

The offence could only have been for offside, although no other player got a touch on the England midfielder's curling effort which nestled inside the far post, and no other player appeared to interfere with play.

It proved a decisive moment and Liverpool went on to struggle in front of goal all afternoon long.

Meanwhile Stoke looked to profit from their early good fortune and Dave Kitson fired a long-range shot over Jose Reina's cross bar moments later. It proved to be the visitors' only noteworthy effort for the entire match as they sat back and allowed Liverpool to come on to them.

With possession so easily won - and retained - by Liverpool, the game quickly became a chance for Liverpool to get in some shooting practice. And judging by the hosts' numerous wayward efforts throughout, they certainly needed it.

Time after time Liverpool were allowed to pour forward but every time they did, the Stoke back line - which lost Ibrahima Sonko to injury early on - held firm.

Pretty it was not, but in terms of effectiveness Pulis's tactics worked and the longer the game wore on, the more frustrated the hosts became.

Only a first-time Xabi Alonso strike from a quickly-taken corner just before the half-hour mark really tested Thomas Sorensen in the Stoke goal during the opening period.

The second half started in the same vein - Liverpool on the attack and Stoke defending resolutely.

Summer signing Robbie Keane again failed to get himself on the scoresheet - the Irishman's best chance came soon after the restart, but Sorensen was equal to his first-time strike.

But Keane was not the only guilty party - Fernando Torres endured a rare off-day, Kuyt squandered two chances in quick succession on 66 minutes, and even Gerrard - despite a two late efforts on goal - could not deliver the heroics the Anfield crowd have become accustomed to.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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  1. too often vs stoke and that 1st game vs standard.. all we tried was down the middle.! playing 1 up hinders the team's creativity.! it worked well before but we must move on.! be positive and progressive.! the 1 up system works for some, but for us it leaves us looking predictable and pedestrian and if stoke can stop us..! then it will get us nowhere.!

    rafa needs to stick to a balanced line-up that will create from wide areas and inside.! thats why we beat united.! and that balance showed vs crewe too.! just couldn't get the 3rd goal.!

    no keane in the derby..! please.! play kuyt/torres with benayoun/riera out wide.! trust the defense and trust the midfield to do their tracking back.! stick to 4-4-2.!

    From , on Wed 24 Sep 11:05AM

  2. rafa is the best coach in the world..........................Dirk Kuijt is a world class winger...................is the best in the world!!
    benitez out!! torres out!! dossena out!!Dirk Kuijt out!!!keanne out!!arbelua out!!!alonso out!!!
    bring schwansteiger,podolski, ribery,quaresma,benzema,groso,gilardino,mutu,mancini and the Special One!!
    shame torress!! shame benitez!! shame keane !!you'll never WIN epl benitez!!!!ynwa

    From Bratu, on Tue 23 Sep 9:01AM

  3. We love u city we do,come to the brit,liverpool only sing when they win

    From scotty, on Tue 23 Sep 2:17AM

  4. shut the @#$% up you silly people the season only started liverpool man u or chelsea are not playing at their best yet far from it and liverpool will destroy stoke away at home they must try at least but you cant blame them for that at anfield many a world class team would be glad of a draw there.

    From liam, on Mon 22 Sep 11:55PM

  5. Whoever Aza master is you are a @#$%, if you think clubs like hull, west brom, and stoke are going to come to anfield and try to play you off the park. At away games with the top 4 these clubs will try to defend and play negative, as it is all about survival.

    One of your players cost as much as stoke spent on 10 players in the summer, so get real and stop whingeing.

    From gburton355@..., on Mon 22 Sep 8:46AM

  6. rafa is the best coach in the world..........................Dirk Kuijt is a world class winger...................is the best in the world!!
    benitez out!! torres out!! dossena out!!Dirk Kuijt out!!!keanne out!!arbelua out!!!alonso out!!!
    bring schwansteiger,podolski, ribery,quaresma,benzema,groso,gilardino,mutu,mancini and the Special One!!
    shame torress!! shame benitez!! shame keane !!you'll never WIN epl benitez!!!!ynwa

    From Bratu, on Mon 22 Sep 7:47AM

  7. Even Mu or Chelsea cannot win if stoke use 10-0-0 system. that system only used by coward team like stoke and other 2nd division team.

    From aza_master, on Mon 22 Sep 4:56AM

  8. liverpool will win the premiership this season...1 points is better than nothing.....4 all lfc fan..always behind the team n the glory will come this year...ynwa

    From naufal afif h, on Mon 22 Sep 1:56AM

  9. A point at Anfield go on stoke well played

    From taffy, on Sun 21 Sep 10:42PM

  10. any team who plays a 10-0-0 formation will more than likely pick up a point anywhere whether it be anfield, old trashford, stampede bridge or more easily goodi( 2 shoes)son park.

    From stubateman13@..., on Sun 21 Sep 10:32PM

  11. I think we've more respectful with the display that Rafa n Gerrard&co showing saturday match..Of course many fan of Lfc become angry with the team performance but we must realistic with the situation,just imagine how many Stoke player in the box?It's definitely 8 player in the box to protect their goal,how good a team and player it is cant afford to get a goal with the situation..Another one to mention and consider is 'luck'..There's really no luck for LFC,Gerrard 100th goal denied,free kick inchies wide,long shot,header and corner and totally no luck to put a ball in the net.I like to optimistic not pesimis with this current LFC run,but from this moment I think all player felling down but should try to forget Stoke and focus Everton next week..For Gerrard&co keep it up,wake up,show something in Everton Goodison Park to silent all critics.You'll Never Walk Alone!!

    From stevegerro, on Sun 21 Sep 6:51PM

  12. LIVERPOOL 6-10 SPOT!!!THE BIG 3 : CHELSEA ,MAN AND ARSENAL!!!Benitez will win the EPL on whis computer!!!
    Shame for all LFC players!!aston villa 10 pct?shame benitez!!!liverpool 11pct?perfect........................
    Go Mighty Reds. Yanks SOS Benitez out!!Go Mighty Reds.

    From Bratu, on Sun 21 Sep 12:41PM

  13. thought you had ambitions of winning the league? you're just like city, put all your effort into trying(and sometimes managing)to beat man utd, then show you're true potential by failing to beat relegation teams.

    From ripped of, on Sun 21 Sep 12:39PM

  14. rafa is the best coach in the world..........................Dirk Kuijt is a world class winger...................is the best in the world!!
    benitez out!! torres out!! dossena out!!Dirk Kuijt out!!!keanne out!!arbelua out!!!alonso out!!!
    bring schwansteiger,podolski, ribery,quaresma,benzema,groso,gilardino,mutu,mancini and the Special One!!
    shame torress!! shame benitez!! shame keane !!you'll never WIN epl benitez!!!!
    everton -liverpool 3-0.............

    From Bratu, on Sun 21 Sep 12:24PM

  15. DONT EVER .. EVER .. EVER ... EVER DAN EVER DREAMIN OF PREMIERSHIP TITLE IF YOUR TEAM DISPLAY LIKE THAT ... RUBBISH TACTIC .. RUBBISH MOTIVATION.. RUBBISH VISION .. RUBBISH FINISHING.. RUBBISH EVERYTHING IS RUBBISH .. IT'S REALLY HURT ME TO WATCH THAT GAME .. FOR THE FIRST TIME IM FEEL SICK .. REALLY SICK .. SO MR RAFA PLEASE RESIGN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ..

    From azhanm, on Sun 21 Sep 12:09PM

  16. was the most one sided match i have ever watched shame no one had there shooting boots on lucky stoke no further comments needed!

    From Neil A, on Sun 21 Sep 12:04PM

  17. LFC to rule...

    From tooshay, on Sun 21 Sep 12:01PM

  18. rafa is the best coach in the world..........................Dirk Kuijt is a world class winger...................is the best in the world!!
    benitez out!! torres out!! dossena out!!Dirk Kuijt out!!!keanne out!!arbelua out!!!alonso out!!!
    bring schwansteiger,podolski, ribery,quaresma,benzema,groso,gilardino,mutu,mancini and the Special One!!
    come on steven gerrard

    From Bratu, on Sun 21 Sep 11:55AM

  19. Not sure what Liverpool fans have to moan about. Torres WAS offside - not interferring with play? A yard in front of Sorenson is interferring with something. Stoke got a lucky break but if that's all Rafa can come up with for not beating a newly promoted team its time to give up. What do Liverpool expect from Stoke - for us to kick the ball in our own net for you (were not ManU - thank god). Its not up to visiting teams to Anfield to roll over and die. Stoke did well to get a point - very unexpected, very lucky, very negative, call it whatever you like but its still a point at a so-called "big four" team. We've got Chelsea next week at home - oh the joy of the Premier League. I'll enjoy it while it lasts and Liverpool fans can take a reality check from this - beating ManU does NOT win you the Premier League it just gets you three points - which is two more than you got from "mighty" Stoke. Arsenal and Chelsea must be rolling about laughing (as am I). Enjoy the rest of the season and we'll see you in January at the Brit.

    From aj.whitehurst@..., on Sun 21 Sep 11:35AM

  20. LIVERPOOL ARE STILL THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TEAM IN ENGLAND BY FAR!...

    From D, on Sun 21 Sep 11:28AM
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