Stoke City 1-2 Liverpool: Match Report

26 October 2011 22:46

Luis Suarez hit a clinical double as Liverpool reached the League Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Stoke on Wednesday.

Kenny Dalglish's side trailed to a Kenwyne Jones goal just before half-time, but Suarez equalised with a fine strike soon after the break and the Uruguay striker underlined his growing reputation as one of the best finishers in Europe as he headed the winner in the closing minutes at the Britannia Stadium.

Stoke were unbeaten at home this season, with Liverpool among their victims in the Premier League in September, and initially it looked as though that run would continue.

Jon Walters came close to giving the hosts an early lead with an audacious effort from wide on the left that dropped just over the bar.

At the other end Stoke backed off and allowed Andy Carroll a run and shot that was parried by Thomas Sorensen.

Danish goalkeeper Sorensen produced a smart save to deny Suarez after a neat move involving Lucas Leiva and Maxi Rodriguez, while Carroll failed to make the most of a free header.

Carroll wasted another good chance after 26 minutes when he shot straight at Sorensen from 15 yards with Stoke appealing in vain for offside.

The Potters thought they had opened the scoring in the 35th minute when Walters flicked in Rory Delap's long throw but referee Lee Probert felt Ryan Shawcross had impeded Reina and it was disallowed.

They had the ball in the net again nine minutes later, and this time it did count, although it was a goal Liverpool will feel should have been prevented.

Uruguayan defender Sebastian Coates, making only his second start for the club, was robbed by Walters out on the right and the striker charged into the area before crossing for Jones to head into the far corner.

Nine minutes into the second half Liverpool drew level with a goal of real quality from Suarez, who was recently accused by Manchester United defender Patrice Evra of making racist comments during the teams' 1-1 draw.

After collecting the ball wide on the left, the Uruguayan nutmegged Ryan Shotton before curling a delightful shot into the far corner.

Dalglish made his first change in the 82nd minute, bringing on Craig Bellamy for Maxi, and the striker almost made an immediate impact, striking the post with a low effort from 20 yards.

But Liverpool, who lost Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt to a late injury, were to get another chance as Jordan Henderson's 85th-minute cross picked out Suarez, who nodded home the winner.

Source: AFP