Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool 2 Stoke 0: Luis Suarez off to a flyer as Reds seal win
[LNB] Fernando Torres would argue the goal he scored on his Anfield debut was rather more impressive; a burst of acceleration that took him beyond Chelsea's back line and a brilliant strike to beat one of the world's finest goalkeepers. [LNB]Luis Suarez started well enough, timing his run to perfection to catch a delightful ball from Dirk Kuyt. The flash of skill that took him around an advancing Asmir Begovic wasn't too shabby, either. But then came the scuffed left-foot shot that Andy Wilkinson really should have cleared. Then came the sight of Wilkinson driving the ball against a post before seeing it spin across Stoke's line. [LNB] On target: Suarez took just 16 minutes to open his Liverpool account [LNB]Was it Suarez's goal? Well, it wascrawling in the right direction before Wilkinson's intervention and thedesire to give it to him at Anfield was almost tangible. [LNB]Torresscored his first goal after just 16 minutes here and, remarkably, theUruguayan had done the same. What could be more perfect? What betterway to respond to the loss of the Spaniard they adored.[LNB]If Liverpool fans were depressed and disillusioned by the departure ofTorres to Chelsea, last night must have felt like a course of Prozacfor 40,000 people. [LNB] Lethal combination: Meireles (right) celebrates with Kyrgiakos after being set up by the Greek defender[LNB]Forthe half-hour he was on the pitch, Suarez did well. There were nicetouches; some intelligent movement. Evidence, already, that the?22.8million the club paid Ajax could amount to money well spent.Thathe has not yet trained with his new colleagues made his performance allthe more impressive. [LNB]Withhis arrival comes a renewed sense of hope that had been building fromwhen Kenny Dalglish took charge but disappeared with the news Torreswas on his way. [LNB]Butit is when Suarez is partnered by Andy Carroll that the real excitementwill build. Out for another month with a thigh injury, Carroll couldonly manage a short walk on to the pitch to say hello last night but hewas made to feel welcome. [LNB] [LNB] Raring to go: ?35m signing Carroll (centre) takes his place in the stands alongside Damien Comolli[LNB]Ifthey can build a partnership worthy of their new shirt numbers, therewill definitely be a sense that the club is once again moving in theright direction. [LNB]Thereare other reasons to be cheerful, too. Jamie Carragher is returning tofitness and in Raul Meireles they might have another player good enoughto be part of Liverpool's longer-term future. [LNB]Earlierthis season he was being used as evidence against Roy Hodgson - aplayer, like so many of the club's recent signings, who struggled withthe burden of expectation that comes with being a Liverpool player.[LNB]His form was poor; his confidence low. He did not appear fit to wearthe shirt. Now, however, he is looking like another decent piece ofbusiness, even if Hodgson had to spend ?11.5million to lure him fromPorto in the summer. [LNB] Fancy footwork: Sotirios Kyrgiakos (second left) dodges Meireles's shot as the reds take the lead[LNB]Aswell as delivering more consistently in midfield, he is scoringimportant goals - against Everton and Wolves, and against Stoke lastnight to help extend what is starting to look like a winning streak. [LNB]Three victories, three clean sheets. Quite a turnaround that has lifted Liverpool to seventh in the table. [LNB]Meireles'latest goal came two minutes into the second half and itwas exactlywhat Liverpool deserved. They dominated the opening 45 minutes andwould have been ahead by at least two goals had it not been for agoalline clearance and a marvellous save by Begovic. [LNB]Fromthe experienced Portugal international came the vital breakthrough,however. After Liverpool defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos had tried to seizeon a deflected freekick from the irrepressible Steven Gerrard, Meireleshad the composure to secure the lead.[LNB]King Luis: Suarez celebrates his debut strike for Liverpool following his big-money move from Ajax[LNB]If Torres tuned into this as well as Chelsea's match the previousevening, he will probably feel even more vindicated in making thedecision to leave. Right now the two teams are more than just threeplaces apart in the Barclays Premier League.[LNB]It could be measured in light years, even if Liverpool did beat Chelseahere with the Spain striker's help earlier this season. [LNB]MATCH FACTSLIVERPOOL (3-4-2-1): Reina 6; Skrtel 6, Kyrgiakos 6, Agger 6; Kelly 6, Lucas 6, Aurelio 6 (Suarez 63min, 7), Johnson 7; Meireles 7 (Shelvey 75), Gerrard 8; Kuyt 6. Subs not used: Gulacsi, Rodriguez, Carragher, Ngog, Wilson.[LNB]Booked: Johnson.[LNB]STOKE (4-5-1): Begovic 7; Wilkinson 6, Faye 6 (Collins 65, 6), Huth 7, Higginbotham 6; Pennant 6, Whitehead 7, Diao 6 (Delap 61, 6), Wilson 6 (Fuller 66, 6), Walters 5; Carew 5. Subs not used: Sorensen, Whelan, Jones, Etherington.[LNB]Booked: Huth, Diao, Carew, Collins.[LNB]Man of the match: Steven Gerrard.[LNB]Referee: Anthony Taylor 7.[LNB]WhileCarlo Ancelotti wonders how best to cram so many world-class playersinto a line-up, Dalglish had to employ a different formation to make upfor a lack of quality in certain areas and provide an answer to Stoke'saerial threat. [LNB]Hewent for 3-5-2, and it proved effective. With more solidity at theback, Liverpool's forwards could attack with confidence and, had it notbeen for a stunning save from Begovic in the 37th minute, Glen Johnsonwould have scored. It was a fine header he produced in meeting anequally impressive cross from Martin Kelly, but Stoke's goalkeepersomehow palmed it away to safety. [LNB]Kuytalso went close with a volley, the momentum very much remaining withLiverpool as the match moved towards the interval. The Dutchmanthreatened again with a shot on the turn. Again, however, the excellentBegovic was perfectly positioned to make the save. [LNB]Butfrom Meireles came the opening goal and from Suarez came the gloriousending. On after 63 minutes, as a replacement for Fabio Aurelio, he wascelebrating his first Liverpool goal by the 79th. 'He can have thefirst goal as well if he wants it,' said Dalglish, and Meireles wouldprobably let him have it, too. For everyone here at Anfield, the darkclouds appear to be disappearing.[LNB] [LNB] Nolan: Liverpool have landed a world beater in my ?35m pal CarrollPulis wary of Liverpool threat despite the departure of hitman TorresPREMIER LEAGUE: All of Wednesday's action as it happenedAll the latest Liverpool news, features and opinionAll the latest Stoke news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Andy Carroll, Kenny Dalglish, Fernando Torres, Fabio Aurelio, Dirk Kuyt, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Martin Kelly, Roy Hodgson Places: Liverpool, Portugal, Spain
