Saturday January 14, 2012 Day 21 Finished Anfield

  1. Liverpool frustrated by stubborn Stoke

    Liverpool frustrated by stubborn Stoke

    Liverpool were held to a goalless draw at home by Stoke City in a dreary Premier League encounter at Anfield. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Liverpool
    • Stoke City
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • - That is Liverpool's seventh Premier League draw at home this season, from 11 matches. Not good enough. Have your say on Twitter @Reda_Maher. FOLLOW HERE!
    • 90+4 Throw to Stoke on the left wing - Delap is up for this! But he takes it short as they try to wind down the clock. The ball flies around from end to end by both sides and that's the end! Liverpool are held by a stubborn Stoke side. Not the greatest game and Liverpool again fail to win at home.
    • 90+3 Walters gives away a free-kick on the left and is booked. Bellamy puts it in but claimed by Sorensen.
    • 90+2 Johnson on the move, wide left for Enrique, he cuts inside, one-two with Carroll now wide for Bellamy but the ball is too heavy. Goal kick.
    • 90+1 Four extra minutes to be played.
    • 90+1 Gerrard with a decent cross for Carroll but Huth heads behind for yet another Liverpool corner! Kitchen sink time! It's headed away though and Carroll catches Huth in the face on the edge of the box.
    • 90' Fuller on the right does well but shoves Carragher before continuing despite the whistle and colliding with Reina.
    • 89' Better from Bellamy this time but Delap clears. Stoke counter but Delap is tackled well by Johnson. Skrtel comes forward, now Gerrard but he shoots weakly at Sorensen. Deflected in the end.
    • 88' Dreadful corner by Bellamy is cleared, low to the first man. Liverpool get it back though and the pressure resumes... Another corner as Crouch heads away.
    • 87' Another corner to Liverpool as Carroll is unable to make his header. STOKE SUB: Etherington off for Fuller.
    • 86' They talk about parking the bus - this is a double-decker from Stoke. Carroll gets in space down the right though, nice looping cross but Walters beats Bellamy to the header. Corner. Adam to swing it in AND SKRTEL WITH THE HEADER BUT INTO THE GROUND AND OVER!
    • 85' Bellamy gets a touch, running at the defence but their are nine big lads in his way so he has to go back to Gerrard. A wall of blue is in Liverpool's way.
    • 84' Sorensen booked for time wasting.
    • 83' Kuyt heads into the side netting from close range, I think Gerrard's cross though I was ahead of the play following that penalty claim.
    • 82' Carroll goes down in the box after tangling with Wilkinson but no foul! Not sure if that was in or out the box.
    • 81' Another high one into the Stoke box but Sorensen again claims. This will be criminal if Liverpool fail to win - they've dominated.
    • 80' Sorensen is almost beaten by a long-range lob by Adam, almost spilling it out for a corner, but he kept that in.
    • 79' Woody is limping a touch so perhaps Pulis doesn't want to risk it. Still seems a bit odd to change the defence at this stage.
    • 78' STOKE SUB: Woodgate coming off for Wilkinson. Not sure why.
    • 77' WHAT A MISS BY KUYT! With just the keeper to beat he heads wide after a superb cross by Enrique was deflected into his path, completely unmarked.
    • 76' Carroll again thinks he's being pulled, and the ball drops to Adam but his shot is blocked by Carroll. Good defending again lar.
    • 75' The shoving doesn't stop and Webb says nay. Cleared to Johnson, good cross and Kuyt goes down with Woodgate in close attendance but again nay from the ref.
    • 75' Bit of aggro before the corner as Carroll and Huth tangle. Webb intervenes, they continue to push and shove, Shawcross involved now.
    • 74' LIVERPOOL SUB: Bellamy comes on for Henderson. So LFC playing 5-2-3 now?
    • 74' Walters and Crouch almost combine but Liverpool clear; long for Carroll and he buys a corner off Shawcross.
    • 73' The high corner is claimed by Sorensen at the second attempt. He's been underworked today.
    • 72' Kuyt almost wriggles away from Huth but the ball spins off his foot to Sorensen. Skrtel now lumps one clear but the high ball is meat and drink to this Stoke side. Johnson now wins a corner off Etherington, who is almost playing as a left-back now.
    • 71' Crouch slides in on Adam, looked a good tackle to me but Adam yelps and Webb calls it a foul.
    • 70' Walters gives it away, forcing Whitehead to foul Carroll on the turn. Adam swings it in but Shawcross heads clear. Silly foul by Skrtel to fly in on Huth, who was heading it out anyway.
    • 69' Johnson tries to slide Caroll in but he's slow to react and Huth clears.
    • 68' Walters robs Gerrard but his shot is high and wide.
    • 67' Enrique and Gerrard contrive to give it away, Woodgate is up there and crosses but cleared.
    • 66' Liverpool passing it around at the back and Stoke rob it back off them. Sloppy play. They don't do anything with it though, preferring to hold possession.
    • 65' Webb has a word with Shawcross after Carroll fouls Whitehead. Not sure what that was about.
    • 64' Gerrard on the ball now, sweeping pass wide to Henderson, LFC keeping it short before Kuyt slips under pressure from Woodgate. Stoke sitting deeper and deeper.
    • 63' STOKE SUB: Whitehead on for Palacios.
    • 62' Terrible pass from Whelan straight at Johnson, now Gerrard, he finds Enrique, great ball AND HENDERSON WITH THE VOLLEY but blocked - by Carroll! Oops.
    • 61' Coates with a dodgy backpass but fancy footwork from Reina takes it away from Etherington; down the other end Gerrard thinks he has won a corner off Whelan but Webb says goal kick. Poor call.
    • 60' Huth gets revenge with a shove on Biffer, the free-kick taken short.
    • 59' The corner is aimed at Carroll and immediately he tries to strangle Huth. Webb doesn't seem to mind though, letting the men wrestle.
    • 59' LIVERPOOL SUB: Downing comes off for Carroll. Hmmm. Yes, but no: should have been one of the back five.
    • 58' Downing's cross is deflected for a Liverpool corner. Andy Carroll to come on now - the right call?
    • 57' Etherington to swing it in... headed away. The ball is still alive but eventually cleared and Palacios shoves Enrique. Carroll still not on as LFC keep the ball moving. Great ball by Gerrard but a touch leaden-footed from Kuyt and Sorensen gathers.
    • 56' Coates with a clumsly trip on Walters just on the edge of the Liverpool box, right side. Will LFC bring Carroll on now or wait until the free-kick? I think they'll wait. Etherington to take...
    • 56' Great ball by Adam wide to Enrique and with Kuyt and Downing free the ball is rubbish, easy for Sorensen. That should have been Downing putting the ball in for Kuyt and Carroll, but if you will play wingbacks...
    • 55' Andy 'Minotaur' Carroll is coming on. Liverpool actually need this you know.
    • 54' Whelan on the ball, Adam comes round the back of him and clips his heels. Free-kick.
    • 53' Johnson goes down on the edge of the box but the ref waves him up.
    • 52' Adam on the move now, short build-up play by LFC but then Enrique just lumps one in with Kuyt alone and it's away by Stoke.
    • 51' Stoke are making this very difficult for Liverpool with everyone behind the ball - Walters is more than happy to drop when needed and Liverpool, remember, have three centre-halves. Free-kick LFC though as Huth clatters into Kuyt. Taken short, Johnson on the run and he cuts inside before dragging a low shot wide.
    • 50' Gerrard on the ball now, Liverpool keeping it short but Stoke have men back and clear. But Henderson picks it up and crosses, half-cleared. Still with the hosts...
    • 49' Etherington's low corner is hacked away at the near post. Poor ball. Liverpool come forward now and Downing is on the right, decent cross but Whelan clears.
    • 49' Blundering defending as Carragher and Reina get their wires crossed, the ball flying off the defender's head for a corner. Carra seems uncomfortable in this back three/five.
    • 48' Etherington runs at Skrtel, who puts ball and man to touch.
    • 47' Kuyt plays in a good low ball but Delap clears. Johnson picks it up, get gets inside Shawcross but Wilson flies in to block the shot!
    • 46' The second half is underway.
    • - So what do you think of that half? Liverpool dominated possession but Stoke have frustrated them and had a decent chance of their own, Etherington shooting at Reina. Let me know on Twitter @Reda_Maher
    • 45+2 The minute has expired and Gerrard doesn't get a second chance at crossing, goalless at half-time.
    • 45+1 One minute added time being played. Gerrard on the right but his cross is way too high.
    • 45' Long throw from Delap but cleared by Liverpool. Long ball almost sends Kuyt away, Sorensen panics but Woodgate calmly clears.
    • 44' Gerrard wide to Kuyt, he holds it up for Downing, nice cross too but Woodgate heads out for a throw wide right again.
    • 43' Poor pass from Gerrard after a promising move but Johnson and Kuyt pressurise Wilson into a rushed clearance and Liverpool have the throw. Stoke win it back though, Walters wide right but his cross is nodded away by Carragher.
    • 42' Enrique brings it away down the left but Woodgate zips across to clear to touch.
    • 41' Adam with a super ball wide for Enrique but the Spaniard's first touch lets him down and he runs it out for a goal kick.
    • 40' Downing sweeps in the corner but Whelan heads clear.
    • 39' Johnson surges forward but the low cross aimed at Kuyt is poor and hacked out by Shawcross. Johnson crosses again, deflected off Huth and wide of a stranded Sorensen for a corner!
    • 38' Downing on the right slides a ball in for Johnson, now Adam, keep-ball by the Reds. Gerrard tries a one-two with Kuyt but Shawcross reads it and Stoke clear.
    • 37' Henderson buys some space off Huth with a classy first touch on the turn but his low shot with the left foot is straight at Mjr Peter Phillips, I mean Thomas Sorensen.
    • 36' Gerrard curls the free-kick in low but not a good delivery, Skrtel on his knees as he tries to make contact and Stoke clear.
    • 35' I've been suspicious of the whole wingbacks thing, it isn't 1998 after all, but Johnson and Enrique have got forward well enough and the latter earns a free-kick around 25 yards out, a touch to the left...
    • 34' Johnson has a shot blocked on the edge of the box, now Gerrard shoots from range but high and wide. All Liverpool right now.
    • 33' Liverpool really putting the pressure on at the moment with Stoke very much looking like the away side. Crouch finally gets a touch but can't offload it and Liverpool regain possession.
    • 32' Downing on a surging run and he has a pop from the edge of the D and it fizzes just over!
    • 31' Johnson almost bundles his way clean through after a super through-ball by Kuyt, Shawcross with the goal-saving challenge.
    • 30' Gerrard to swing this in... headed away but Coates can reach it. Still Stoke manage to clear. Gerrard with a crossfielder but straight to Woody.
    • 29' Shawcross flies into Adam and gets a booking.
    • 28' Pulis is barking instructions at his side, who are second best to most things at the moment. Liverpool lacking a proper striker at the moment.
    • 27' Skrtel drills a low ball across the face of goal and Adam attacks but somehow it spins away from both him and Sorensen and out on the left side! Goal kick.
    • 26' Gerrard with a sweeing ball to Jose Enrique, he crosses but headed away for a throw by Wilson under pressure from Downing.
    • 25' Liverpool could be in here but a poor ball by Henderson - who delayed offloading due to a poor touch - infuriates Henrique on the overlap.
    • 24' That was a good run from Etherington but come on LFC back three - they were all over the place, getting in each other's way and backing off in fear.
    • 23' Etherington goes on the run, they back off him and he can shoot here but straight at the keeper!
    • 22' Good news for Liverpool fans - United have missed a penalty (Rooney) and Wolves have scored at Spurs. Chelsea, however, are leading.
    • 21' Adam sweeps the free-kick in but cleared from Coates. Then Delap and Gerrard clash and Stoke have a free-kick on halfway.
    • 20' Gerrard digs himself out of a hole with a lovely curling pass to Coates; then Woodgate takes his old mate Downing down and Liverpool have a free-kick on the left.
    • 19' Henderson exchanges passes with Downing and wins a throw on the right. Nothing comes of it though.
    • 18' Woodgate with a powerful header to touch. Throw taken quickly, Kuyt can't get on to Adam's cross though.
    • 17' Gerrard to take this one... far post but high and easy for Sorensen.
    • 16' Weaving, mazy dribble by Coates into the Stoke box to win a corner. Libero!
    • 15' Liverpool have the ball back after loaning it to Stoke for a couple of minutes. Keeping it short and simple for now.
    • 14' Etherington on the left but his cross is into the gut of Skrtel. Liverpool clear.
    • 13' Decent spell now for Stoke, and a rare one on the ball thus far.
    • 12' Woodgate heads the corner clear and the clearance is completed by Etherington.
    • 12' Whelan wins the ball back but gives it away and Kuyt is able to earn a corner. Whelan getting back to save his error.
    • 11' Great corner by Gerrard, Skrtel touches it on AND ADAM but it comes off the back of his leg and away! He knew little about that.
    • 10' Great slide tackle by Palacios on Adam in the box after Jose Henrique's raking ball released the midfielder. Corner.
    • 9' Woodgate heads it out for a throw which Downing takes quickly. Now Henderson to Gerrard, one-touch passing sees Henderson put wide and a nice cross but Thomas Sorensen claims.
    • 8' Walters is back defending as he heads the ball away following a diagonal Adam ball. Stoke have everyone back.
    • 7' A sustained spell of Liverpool pressure but Kuyt can't get past Huth and Stoke clear.
    • 6' Woodgate slides it forward it's helped back to Reina, who hoofs clear.
    • 5' Almost a super ball by Kuyt for Downing but it runs away from the winger. Mistake from the Stoke defence in the build-up.
    • 4' Superb headed flick-on by Walters from a diagonal ball by Whelan but Etherington mis-hits the shot well wide.
    • 3' Skrtel lives. By the way, ignore the graphic below these comments: Liverpool are playing wingbacks (yes, wingbacks) in a 5-4-1 formation.
    • 2' Skrtel is in a heap on the floor after flying into Whelan.
    • 1' Early free-kick to Stoke with Kuyt infringing. High into the corner, unsurprisingly.
    • 1' The first half is underway!
    • 14:58 The teams are out - if Liverpool win this and other results go their way, they could go fourth in theory. Stoke, meanwhile, would stay eighth with victory, as they are four points shy of Newcastle.
    • 14:57 Several of my LFC supporting friends suggested on Twitter the other day that Carroll is one of the worst strikers in the Premier League. As a neutral on this I feel that's a bit harsh, he's had injury problems (whatever their root cause) and has been a bit unlucky too. What do you reckon? Tweet @Reda_Maher if you will.
    • 14:56 I'm Reda Maher, by the way, and will be your match commentator today. Like refs, I am only human, but if you have anything to say to me please do so using the medium of Twitter (@Reda_Maher) as there are so many nonsense comments below that I don't bother reading them. FOLLOW HERE!
    • 14:55 Well seeing as today's ref is the usually-quite-good and always-lenient Howard Webb one would assume Pulis will have little to complain about.
    • 14:50 Tony Pulis: "I think with every game you go into, you hope it is won and lost by the players. You hope that referees don't affect it in terms of decisions that change a game of football. That is all you hope for, but they are human beings and they will make mistakes like every player and manager does."
    • 14:45 Kenny Dalglish on Steven Gerrard: "You have to wait and see how they get through injuries. Giggs is 38, isn't he? That's seven years down the line - that's a long time to predict - but if he's fit there's no reason why not. I've not got a crystal ball. I'm just delighted he's done what he's done and we have got him here."
    • 14:40 Stoke have lost just one of their last eight Premier League games (W5 D2 L1). The Potters have failed to score in their three Premier League trips to Anfield and have netted just once in their last 10 away games against Liverpool. Stoke results and fixtures
    • 14:33 Jonathan Woodgate and Marc Wilson passed late fitness checks for Stoke, but Ryan Shotton did not make it. Peter Crouch and Matthew Etherington return after being rested at Gillingham in the 3-1 FA Cup win last weekend.
    • 14:30 Sebastian Coates makes only his second league appearance for Liverpool today, and first start. His only previous appearance came in the 4-0 defeat at Tottenham. Jamie Carragher is back for the Reds while there is also a start for Dirk Kuyt - with Andy Carroll on the bench.
    • 14:25 Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Coates, Skrtel, Jose Enrique, Carragher, Adam, Henderson, Gerrard, Downing, Kuyt; subs: Doni, Aurelio, Carroll, Shelvey, Kelly, Flanagan, Bellamy /// Stoke: Sorensen, Woodgate, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson, Delap, Whelan, Palacios, Etherington, Walters, Crouch; subs: Begovic, Jones, Fuller, Pennant, Whitehead, Wilkinson, Jerome
    • 14:20 Liverpool have lost just two of their last 15 Premier League games (W7 D6 L2). The Reds are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League matches at Anfield (W4 D6), but have drawn five of their last seven. Liverpool results and fixtures
    • 14:15 Welcome to coverage of Liverpool versus Stoke in the Premier League.

  • Summary

    • 86' They talk about parking the bus - this is a double-decker from Stoke. Carroll gets in space down the right though, nice looping cross but Walters beats Bellamy to the header. Corner. Adam to swing it in AND SKRTEL WITH THE HEADER BUT INTO THE GROUND AND OVER!
    • 83' Kuyt heads into the side netting from close range, I think Gerrard's cross though I was ahead of the play following that penalty claim.
    • 82' Carroll goes down in the box after tangling with Wilkinson but no foul! Not sure if that was in or out the box.
    • 77' WHAT A MISS BY KUYT! With just the keeper to beat he heads wide after a superb cross by Enrique was deflected into his path, completely unmarked.
    • 75' The shoving doesn't stop and Webb says nay. Cleared to Johnson, good cross and Kuyt goes down with Woodgate in close attendance but again nay from the ref.
    • 62' Terrible pass from Whelan straight at Johnson, now Gerrard, he finds Enrique, great ball AND HENDERSON WITH THE VOLLEY but blocked - by Carroll! Oops.
    • 47' Kuyt plays in a good low ball but Delap clears. Johnson picks it up, get gets inside Shawcross but Wilson flies in to block the shot!
    • 39' Johnson surges forward but the low cross aimed at Kuyt is poor and hacked out by Shawcross. Johnson crosses again, deflected off Huth and wide of a stranded Sorensen for a corner!
    • 32' Downing on a surging run and he has a pop from the edge of the D and it fizzes just over!
    • 31' Johnson almost bundles his way clean through after a super through-ball by Kuyt, Shawcross with the goal-saving challenge.
    • 27' Skrtel drills a low ball across the face of goal and Adam attacks but somehow it spins away from both him and Sorensen and out on the left side! Goal kick.
    • 11' Great corner by Gerrard, Skrtel touches it on AND ADAM but it comes off the back of his leg and away! He knew little about that.
    • 14:25 Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Coates, Skrtel, Jose Enrique, Carragher, Adam, Henderson, Gerrard, Downing, Kuyt; subs: Doni, Aurelio, Carroll, Shelvey, Kelly, Flanagan, Bellamy /// Stoke: Sorensen, Woodgate, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson, Delap, Whelan, Palacios, Etherington, Walters, Crouch; subs: Begovic, Jones, Fuller, Pennant, Whitehead, Wilkinson, Jerome

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.5 7
      Defenders
      7.3 7
      7.5 7
      6.7 6
      7.9 6
      Midfielders
      7.1 6
      7.1 6
      Substitution Out59′ 6.8 6
      8.1 6
      Substitution Out74′ 6.6 6
      Strikers
      7.1 5
      Subs
      Substitution In74′ 7.5 6
      Substitution In59′ 4.8 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      Yellow Card 5.7 7
      Defenders
      Substitution Out79′ 5.9 7
      Yellow Card 5.2 7
      5.6 7
      5.5 7
      Midfielders
      5 6
      Substitution Out62′ 5.5 7
      5.6 7
      Substitution Out87′ 5.3 7
      Strikers
      Yellow Card 4.9 7
      5.6 6
      Subs
      Substitution In87′ 4.6 6
      Substitution In62′ 4.2 6
      Substitution In79′ 3.8 -

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