Despite dominating possession for the majority of the contest, the Reds were unable to break down a resolute Potters rearguard.

Dirk Kuyt missed the best opportunity to break the deadlock with just over 10 minutes remaining when he headed wide from a good position, meaning the points were to be shared between the two sides.

Kenny Dalglish made five changes to the side that began against Manchester City in midweek, with Jamie Carragher returning to the starting XI to join Sebastian Coates and Martin Skrtel in a three-man central defence.

There was also a starting berth for Kuyt, with the Dutchman leading the line supported by Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing in what was a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Liverpool began brightly on a crisp winter's afternoon on Merseyside, and Charlie Adam could have put them ahead with just 10 minutes on the clock when Steven Gerrard's drilled corner picked out the Scot unmarked on the six-yard box, but he couldn't adjust his feet quickly enough to turn the ball over the line.

But the visitors, who travelled to Anfield on the back of a four-match unbeaten run, were defending stoutly, with the Reds toiling to find the key to breaking them down in the opening exchanges.

With 24 minutes gone, the Potters broke down another move from the hosts and sprang a speedy counter-attack, which resulted in Matthew Etherington drilling straight at Pepe Reina from the edge of the box.

Back came Liverpool and Skrtel's pass right across the face of goal was just an inch too far ahead of Adam's burst into the box before Kuyt almost released Glen Johnson into space in a dangerous position moments later.

There were better signs for Dalglish's side on 32 minutes, however, when Downing's surge forward created a shooting opportunity for the England winger, who drilled his effort just over Thomas Sorensen's crossbar.

Next, Henderson engineered half a yard of space for himself on the edge of the area, however his left-foot strike lacked the necessary power to beat the Stoke goalkeeper - but the manager will no doubt have been demanding more from his charges as the teams went into half-time on level terms.

Liverpool almost made the ideal start to the second period when the ball broke for Johnson deep inside the Stoke box, but Robert Huth flung his body in the way to make a crucial block.

Still, the visitors were continuing to prove stubborn to break down, prompting Dalglish to introduce Andy Carroll into the action on 58 minutes to replace Downing.

Roared on by the Kop, the Reds began to increase the pressure - and Henderson threatened with a back-post volley that struck a body of players inside the danger zone.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, home fans were left screaming for a penalty when Carroll went crashing to the turf under the challenge of Ryan Shawcross at a corner, but the claims were waved away by referee Howard Webb.

Kuyt spurned the Reds' best chance of the afternoon so far on 77 minutes when Jose Enrique's cross deflected into his path. But with the Dutchman unmarked six yards from goal, he could only head wide of the target.

The No.18 went close again soon after, nodding substitute Craig Bellamy's deep cross into the side netting from a tight angle.

With four minutes remaining and Stoke penned back, Skrtel saw a downward header bounce up and loop agonisingly over the crossbar as Liverpool had to settle for a point.

Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Jose Enrique