Stoke

3.18

• 
  10

  0

  4.00

  Asmir Begovic

  A lapse of judgement from the Bosnian from a Henderson cross gave Suarez the chance to strike and he was fortunate that Shawcross was on hand, but he more than made up for that in the second half with a string of stunning point-blank saves from Henderson and Adam that earned his side a win.

• 
  3

  0

  2.50

  Robert Huth

  The German again started at right-back, this time to accommodate Upson, and occasionally allowed Downing to fly past him. Taken off for Wilkinson in the second half.

• 
  8

  0

  4.00

  Ryan Shawcross Top of the Match

  A commanding performance from the captain, who held firm against Suarez in the first half as the Uruguayan looked to force his way into the area and got his body in the way of the forward's shot after Begovic tipped a cross to the striker at the back stick.

• 
  4

  0

  4.00

  Matthew Upson

  A solid Premier League debut for the new man at the back, who threw himself at everything and worked well with Shawcross, although he was fortunate not to give away a penalty when the ball struck his arm in the box late on.

• 
  1

  0

  3.00

  Marc Wilson

  The Irishman was aided by the fact that Liverpool did not field a specialist right-back, but he still allowed Henderson to get beyond him on more than a few occasions. Fared slightly better against Downing in the second half when the England man switched flanks.

• 
  1

  0

  3.00

  Jermaine Pennant

  His hopeful looping ball ultimately led to Walters' penalty but he was largely restricted to a defensive role in the second half as Enrique pushed forward.

• 
  2

  0

  3.00

  Rory Delap

  A quietly effective screening performance from the veteran, whose throws were disrupted by the wind, before being replaced for Palacios.

• 
  2

  0

  3.00

  Dean Whitehead

  Combative as ever, the former Sunderland man harried Lucas and Adam in possession.

• 
  2

  0

  3.00

  Matthew Etherington

  Swung in a delicious free-kick that could have led to an opener, but otherwise quiet from the left winger, who was taken off for Jones.

• 
  2

  0

  3.00

  Jonathan Walters

  The Scouser was his usual tireless self and it paid off when he uncompromisingly contested a bouncing ball with Carragher, who wrapped an arm around the forward's waist, giving Stoke a cheap penalty from which he blasted home.

• 
  1

  1

  3.00

  Peter Crouch

  A quiet first half in his first game for his new club, but the record signing got stuck in a bit more after the break, doing the sort of dirty work that his manager expects of his strikers.

Substitutions

• 
  1

  0

  3.00

  Andy Wilkinson

  Replaced Huth at right-back and did his job well.

• 
  1

  0

  3.00

  W. Palacios

  Came on for Delap with less than 20 minutes remaining to make his debut, and pressed Liverpool's midfield well.

• 
  1

  0

  3.00

  Kenwyne Jones

  Introduced for the tiring Etherington, giving Carragher and co a few troubles with his running.

Liverpool

2.86

• 
  8

  1

  3.00

  José Reina Paez

  Had nothing to do but pick the ball out of his net in the first half.

• 
  10

  6

  2.00

  Jamie Carragher

  Terribly gave away a cheap penalty as he was caught out of position by Walters and then wrapped an arm around the forward's waist.

• 
  7

  2

  3.00

  Martin Skrtel

  Fortunate that the referee did not spot a blatant bit of shirt pulling in the box when Stoke swung in a corner towards Shawcross in the opening minutes. Had a chance to equalise from a Suarez cross but blazed over. Looked ungainly going forward from right-back, and was unsurprisingly replaced by Johnson.

• 
  8

  1

  3.00

  Daniel Agger

  Kept Crouch quiet and looked untroubled throughout.

• 
  10

  3

  3.00

  José Enrique

  Got forward well and kept Pennant on the back foot in the first half. Delivered the pass from which Henderson should have scored.

• 
  6

  5

  2.50

  Charlie Adam

  A strange first half from the Scot, who kept it simple for the most part but indulged in some Playstation football with a ridiculous shot from the halfway line that barely moved off the ground before being collected by Begovic. His second half was worse, and he twice failed to capitalise on a loose ball around the area.

• 
  8

  1

  3.00

  Lucas Leiva

  Oozed composure, evidenced when he held off a Crouch challenge before slipping a delicious through ball down the channel for Downing in the first half. Could have done with more refined shooting in the second half, and looked hesitant to fire from distance on a couple of occasions when the opportunity arose.

• 
  7

  10

  2.50

  Jordan Henderson Flop of the Match

  Linked well with Lucas and looked incisive at times but spurned a chance to score when released one-on-one, twice hitting straight at Begovic before being replaced by Bellamy.

• 
  5

  2

  2.50

  Stewart Downing

  Energetic display from the England international, but he struggled to come up with a telling touch in the first half and was switched to the right for the second. Should have done better with a cross to the far post rather than head straight at Begovic.

• 
  8

  1

  3.00

  Dirk Kuyt

  Competed well in the air and selflessly ran to create space for those around him, but rarely troubled Stoke's defence and was subbed off for Carroll.

• 
  15

  1

  3.50

  Luis Suárez

  Typically industrious, the Uruguayan tried to bamboozle Stoke's backline with his trickery as much he went toe-to-toe with Shawcross and Upson. Fashioned a few chances for himself and would almost certainly have been credited with an assist had a perfectly weighted ball across the box fell to an attacking team-mate and not Skrtel. Never gave up despite having to almost everything for himself, though he will be angered at missing a glorious chance to equalise when Begovic spilled a cross into his path in the dying stages.

Substitutions

• 
  5

  2

  3.00

  Glen Johnson

  Thrown on for Skrtel to give the Reds natural width from deep.

• 
  4

  2

  3.00

  Andy Carroll

  Came on with 20 minutes left for Kuyt but barely got a kick.

• 
  11

  2

  3.00

  Craig Bellamy

  Replaced Henderson and immediately made an impact down the left, teeing up an inviting cross for Downing, who headed at Begovic.