Review: Stoke City 1 Liverpool 2

With a gutsy and hard working performance from 'pool we are through to the quarter finals of the Carling Cup!

2 second half goals from Luis Suarez was enough to see off Stoke tonight in a well contested physical encouter at the Britannia Stadium.

Suarez Celebrates scoring

As predicted in my preview Stoke came out with a direct and physical game that would test our players. Props go out to Kenny for picking Coates and Agger over Skrtel and Johnson, the extra height really helped us deal with the set pieces and long throws.

In the first half i thought we were the better team and didn't think we deserved to go a goal behind, but a mistake like Coates one rarely go unpunished. Other then the goal Stoke didn't really threaten much in our final 1/3, liverpool restricting them to half chances.

Luis wheels away making it 1-1

The Second half saw Liverpool a little more lively, Suarez especially looking the goods being the agitator that he is. He looked the mostly likely to score and did so with a nice nutmeg and curling shot giving Stoke keeper Sorenson no chance.

After the goal Liverpool continued to dominate frustrating Stoke and creating more chances.

This paid off when Suarez was found unmarked in the box after a Henderson cross and he made no mistake putting it past Sorensen again, certainly the stand out player of the 22 on the pitch. 

Stoke made attacking changes after that but it was to laste, Liverpool doing enough to go through to the next round. 

Suarez celebrates the second

Overall i am pleased with how the team played considering the number of changes, it wasn't pretty football. Key players for me where, Suarez, Henderson and Spearing. Spearing did an excellent job of breaking up the Stoke passing, matching them physically and building our attacks after wining the ball. Henderson's passing and crossing was great all game, he looked hungry and alert, it was his cross that lead to the liverpool winner a much deserved reward for a fine game.

Luis Suarez was again a class above the rest, annoying the Stoke defense constantly and putting away both chances that came to him

FTK MoM: Luis Suarez

Is it any surprise that Luis wins MoM again, 2 great goals and a constant threat to the Stoke team. quick, alert, clinical and all class, well done Luis! 

pics: liverpoolfc.tv