Liverpool frustrated by Stoke

Liverpool missed the chance to move into the Premier League's top five as they were held to a seventh home league draw of the season by Stoke.

Dirk Kuyt squandered the hosts' best chance as he headed wide from eight yards out in the final quarter.

Martin Skrtel nodded over late on but Liverpool were mainly restricted to long-range efforts and substitute Andy Carroll's hopeful penalty shouts.

Matthew Etherington shot straight at Jose Reina in a rare Stoke attack.

Liverpool and Manchester City started the day as the only sides unbeaten at home in the top flight and history suggested that Stoke, who had visited Anfield on 48 previous occasions without a win, would not be the first to win there in this campaign.

The absence of a home defeat hides the fact that Liverpool had won only four of their previous 10 league matches at Anfield and the selection of a five-man backline, with Kuyt as a lone frontman, looked ill-equipped to overwhelm a well-drilled Stoke side.

The hosts enjoyed the majority of possession but, despite Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson eagerly breaking from midfield in support of Kuyt and the introduction of Carroll and Craig Bellamy off the bench after the break, their attempts to thread their way through the heart of the Stoke defence were continually frustrated.

Before Carroll's entry in the 58th minute, there was little aerial threat for the Reds and it was Etherington who came closest in the first half.

After Jamie Carragher had carried the ball upfield in an attempt to spark the attack into life, the winger charged forward to exploit his absence at the back, but his crisp effort found Reina's gloves.

Charlie Adam had failed to get a decisive touch when an early corner skidded through to him at the back post while Steven Gerrard, Downing and Henderson all chanced their luck from distance without success as the half drew to a close.

Thomas Sorensen's quiet afternoon in the Stoke goal continued after the interval as Glen Johnson dragged wide and it took only 12 minutes before Dalglish introduced Carroll.

The crowd were lifted by the record signing's appearance and he immediately made his presence felt as he wrestled with Robert Huth from a Liverpool corner.

Referee Howard Webb turned down his appeals for a penalty and was similarly unmoved soon after when Carroll and Kuyt felt they were fouled in the box by Ryan Shawcross and Jonathan Woodgate respectively.

A favourable decision from the official looked the home side's likeliest hope of a clear-cut opportunity before Kuyt had a great chance to score without Webb's assistance.

Jose Enrique's deflected cross looped up invitingly for the Dutchman but his powerful header strayed the wrong side of the post.

Skrtel's effort bounced tamely over the bar shortly after but Adam's ambitious attempt from just inside his own half summed up a disappointing attacking display by Liverpool.

By contrast the visitors, who had taken 17 Premier League points from their previous eight games - a record only Tottenham could match - will reflect on another job well done.

Source: BBC Sport

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