Liverpool ran riot at Anfield as they pummeled Stoke City 4-1 in their Premier League game on Sunday. Alberto Moreno opened the scoring with a wonderful strike from distance while Bojan equalised with a glancing header after fine delivery into the box from a set piece.
Daniel Sturridge restored the lead before the break and Divock Origi scored a brace after coming on as a half-time substitute to take the game away from Stoke City.
Here’s a look at the player ratings from the game.
Liverpool:
Simon Mignolet – 7/10
Simon Mignolet seems a completely different keeper under Jurgen Klopp at the moment. The Belgian made a couple of delightful saves in the game and came out for every loose ball in the air with some success. His communication with his fellow defenders has been excellent of late.
Nathaniel Clyne – 7/10
Nathaniel Clyne was solid for most of the game again and made a few good runs forward as well. He seemed to be in control of proceedings for the majority of the game.
Kolo Toure – 7/10
After some initial loose play, Kolo Toure dealt with everything that came at him which was fairly less in the second half. He snatched the ball away from Peter Crouch as he was teeing himself up for a semi bicycle-kick and even made a fine run forward in the second half.
Martin Skrtel – 2/10
Martin Skrtel has looked totally off the pace since returning from injury and looked shaky again. He was lucky to have little to deal with in the second half. He gave away the foul that led to the goal.
Alberto Moreno – 8/10
Alberto Moreno scored an absolute howitzer from distance as he left the keeper with no chance. He even put in an impressive defensive shift and was fine going forward.
Kevin Stewart – 7/10
Kevin Stewart put in a classy performance well beyond his years as he screened his defence with ease all through the game. His reading of the game was immense.
Joe Allen – 8/10
Minor bullying by Giannelli Imbula aside, Joe Allen put in a star shift in midfield today and was most impressive holding up and distributing the ball quickly. He made a few fine runs into the box and often provided support to young Kevin Stewart.
James Milner – 9/10
James Milner put in his best today as he collected two assists for his trouble. The second was exquisite as he delivered an inch-perfect cross with his weaker foot for Origi to nod in. The first one was to find Alberto Moreno in space for the opener.
Sheyi Ojo – 7/10
Sheyi Ojo lasted only forty-five minutes and looked nervy early on but shook it off after being shifted to the left-hand side. He left Shaqiri for dead and released an inch perfect cross for Daniel Sturridge to restore Liverpool’s lead with the second goal.
Roberto Firmino – 6/10
Roberto Firmino has had better days. Returning from injury, the Brazilian looked a little off the pace but he did do all his defensive duties well.
Daniel Sturridge – 7/10
Daniel Sturridge is far from match sharp but looks to be getting there with every passing day. His pace and movement gave Stoke City all sorts of trouble and he scored the second Liverpool goal to restore Liverpool’s lead.
Substitutes
Divock Origi – 9/10
Divock Origi came on at half-time to score a brace with a first goal that was a result of him being picked out by an absolute peach of a cross from James Milner.
The second was down to him running at Phil Bardsley from the left and delivering a superb ball into Daniel Sturridge which actually missed him and flew into the net. His introduction into the game completely knocked Stoke City off their feet.
Adam Lallana – 7/10
Adam Lallana came on for Roberto Firmino and provided more energy and attacking threat than the Brazilian could all game.
Lucas Leiva – N/A
Stoke City:
Jakob Haugaard – 4/10
Jakob Haugaard could barely do anything to stop the goals this game and didn't look confident on the pitch either. His communication with his defenders is clearly not good enough and he should’ve done better for the final goal.
Phil Bardsley – 5/10
Phil Bardsley had an absolute nightmare on the night. He should’ve closed down Alberto Moreno quicker for the opener and was left in no man’s land as Ojo delivered for Sturridge. He should’ve stopped Origi for the final goal as well.
Ryan Shawcross – 5/10
Ryan Shawcross had plenty of fouls and lots of frustration to show from the game but it is rather inexplicable how Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge were under no pressure for Liverpool’s third and second goal respectively.
Philipp Wollscheid – 6/10
Playing at centre-back, Wollscheid started decently and the game steadily descended into a nightmare for him and his fellow mates in the Stoke backline. A bad day at the office.
Erik Pieters – 5/10
Erik Pieters seemed fine before the half time break but after it, he was atrocious and Mark Hughes took him off towards the end.
Geoff Cameron – 4/10
Geoff Cameron started the game well but before long he was being easily overrun by every Liverpool player on the pitch. Poor.
Giannelli Imbula – 7/10
Giannelli Imbula was the only bright spot in the entire Stoke midfield as he kept making important runs and breaking up play. However, it wasn’t such a good day as his fellow players didn’t seem quite up for it
Xherdan Shaqiri - 6/10
Xherdan Shaqiri was a frustrated figure for most of the game as he hardly had enough time on the ball. He delivered the ball in from a free-kick for the equalizer and had a half chance which he nearly scored from.
Ibrahim Afellay – 4/10
Ibrahim Afellay was completely missing all game.
Bojan Krkic – 6/10
Bojan moved in well and scored the opening goal with a glancing header from a set piece delivery but hardly had any other form of impact on the game.
Peter Crouch – 6/10
Without any decent service for most of the game, Peter Crouch could only spend most of the game strolling around and looking lost.
Substitutes
Mame Biram Diouf– 5/10
Mame Biram Diouf came in and fit right in, along with the rest of his teammates on a long list of players missing on the pitch.
Joselu – 5/10
Joselu hardly had any sort of impact or service to do something from after coming on.
Marc Muniesa – N/A
