Match report from tonight's home win in the encounter versus Stoke City
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Liverpool recorded their first win of the season as goals from Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson, Dirk Kuyt and David N'Gog brushed aside a lacklustre Stoke City at Anfield.
The win stretches the Reds' unbeaten home record to 31 games and quashes any worries that the Anfield faithful may have had after the weekend's 2-1 setback at Tottenham Hotspur.
Rafa Benitez made two changes from the side that lost on the opening day of the season.
Spanish defender Daniel Ayala was handed his full debut replacing Martin Skrtel who failed a late fitness test, while
Yossi Benayoun came in for Ryan Babel.
Stoke also made two changes following their 2-0 home win against Premier League newcomers Burnley.
Midfielder Glenn Whelan and striker Richard Cresswell started in place of Liam Lawrence and Ricardo Fuller, who dropped to the bench.
A prime reason for Liverpool's unbeaten record at Anfield last season was their blistering start to games and it seems this campaign will see much of the same as they took the lead after only four minutes.
After a neat one-two between captain Steven Gerrard and midfielder Lucas Leiva, the ball fell to unmarked star striker Torres and from ten yards out the Spaniard slotted past hapless Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen to open his account for the season.
The Reds took the game to Stoke and should have doubled their advantage halfway through the first period, but left-back Emiliano Insua could only find the side-netting with the goal at his mercy.
With Benitez barking orders from the sidelines, Liverpool took the game to their retreating opponents and they made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time.
A corner from the right found the head of the hard-working Kuyt. His effort was parried straight to man of the match Johnson, who acrobatically smashed the ball into the net to send the home support into raptures.
Whatever Stoke manager Tony Pulis said at the break had the desired effect as Liverpool stopper Pepe Reina pulled off a world-class save to stop Rory Delap getting his name on the scoresheet , while Johnson got in the way of City striker Cresswell from tapping in.
After an early second-half scare, Liverpool found their form and the impressive Johnson was only inches away from claiming his second of the night only to see Sorensen fingertip his effort past the near post.
It was 3-0 after 78 minutes though as Kuyt stabbed the ball home from close range after being brilliantly set-up by Gerrard.
Liverpool wrapped up an emphatic victory with the final touch of the game as substitute striker N'Gog rose to head home after Johnson's cross-cum-shot came back off the bar. |
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