Let’s Talk About Six Baby

Sports - Football - CL Final - THFC 0:2 LFC 

LFC Make It Six

XxXXxX 

A week to go till the UEFA Super Cup in good old Istanbul (oh yes, we LOVE Istanbul), I thought I would go through my notes to recap and relive the night we became European Champions for the SIXth time:

That Saturday night, Madrid turned red, the whole of Europe and the football world was covered in red, cheers, songs and fire works.

After last year’s heart break against Real Madrid in Kiev, Liverpool came to the Spanish capital to make sure it will all be rectified, by beating Tottenham 0-2.

It took just over 22 seconds for the Reds to get a breakthrough. Handball given against Moussa Sissoko, blocking Sadio Mané’s take, penalty! VAR confirmed the arm moved towards the ball after it bounced off the player’s chest.

Mohamed Salah banged the spot kick in, leaving Hugo Lloris uselessly blank, 0-1 (2’). 

Jürgen Klopp’s men were in control from then on, but had Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker to thank for keeping their cool and very solid on a handful of occasions.

Spurs dominated possession and chances, Christian Erikson’s late free kick was the top pick of the saves, full-stretch (85’). Gulp.

The more relieving and satisfying it was to see sub Divock Origi double the Reds’ lead (87’) and get the party started. Boom!

This encounter was maybe less thrilling, shocking, unbelievable than the semi-finals and THAT 2005 final  (the last time LFC won the CL in case you needed reminding, in Istanbul, I thought maybe just to mention), but still unforgettable. 

The stories leading up to the night, fans and players, of both sides, made this night oh so sweet! That's why we love football! :-D And that YNWA at the end, goosebumps! #YNWA

XxXXxX 

I enjoyed the night in a casino in the South-West of France, I was not the only Red full of joy (and my Gunner husband was happy as well).

The drive back up North was good fun, sharing the motorway with happy Red and not so happy Spurs vans and busses. Again, unforgettable.

I followed the victory parade on my phone, couldn't get the smile off my face and still can't. #LetsTalkAboutSixBaby

And what makes this even better, I am so sure it is just the start, the first, just the opening chapter of an even more glorious, joyous, and oh so happy story. #WalkOn #WithHopeInYourHeart #YNWA

Lots of fans are worried because of the lack of summer transfer activity at the club. WHY? Have you already forgotten what Klopp and co have done?! Why chop and change the record-breaking kings of Europe?! #WeAreTheChampions #WeWillKeepOnFighting

Click here for my last post.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC live match and parade coverage and report.

Premier League Picks Of The Week 18

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 18

The 18th week of Premier League action saw:

34 goals - most by Tottenham = 6

241 shots - most by Man City = 19

91 on target - most by Man United = 9

97 corners - most by Man City = 13

200 fouls - most by Brighton = 18

33 bookings - most by Burnley = 5

1 red card - Dunk for Brighton

5 penalties - 5 scored (Milivojevic for Palace, Ings for Southampton, Deeney for Watford, Camarasa for Cardiff, Lingard for United)

What a match! 15th-placed Crystal Palace absolutely stunned champions Manchester City with a comeback-and-a-half, ending up 2-3 winners in the Saturday afternoon encounter at the Etihad. Andros Townsend’s smacker from 30 yards out made it 1-2 (35’) after İlkay Gündoğan had given the Citizens the lead (27’) and Jeffrey Schlupp equalised (33’), making it three goals in eight minutes and adding up to a very juicy half of football. The home side dominated but the visitors kept control and made their few chances count (three shots on target = three goals). Luka Milivojević added to the Eagles’ lead making it 1-3 from the spot after the break (51’) before Kevin De Bruyne pulled a nice one back late on - intentional or not - with a cross/shot from distance (85’). It’s the London side’s first win at City for exactly 28 years, taking them up to 14th, six points clear of the drop zone, Roy Hodgson called it “one of those bonanza days”. It’s a very unusual feeling for Pep Guardiola, whose side were 13 points clear at the top last Christmas, but now trail leaders Liverpool by four points after their second defeat in their past three Premier League games - as many losses as in their previous 61 league matches combined. More to the Reds’ top form below.

What a team! Liverpool kept their unbeaten run going on the very rainy Friday night, ending up very wet but quite comfortable 0-2 winners at Wolves. Man of the match Mohamed Salah scored the opener (18’), making the Egyptian the top scorer in the league, and set up the other, Virgil van Dijk and the Dutchman's first goal for the club (68’). No discrediting the home side, they tried, and got the Reds shaking a couple of times, but it was not to be. The 15th win and 11th clean sheet of the season kept Jürgen Klopp’s side at the top for Christmas, with a record of only seven goals conceded after 18 games.

Tottenham took Everton to bits on the only Super Sunday match, thrashing the Merseysiders 2-6 at Goodison Park, taking them to just two points off City in second. Son Heung-min (27’, 61’) and Harry Kane (42’, 74’) starred with a brace each, Dele Alli (35’) and Christian Eriksen (48’) adding their part to the bash. The Toffees are one point worse off after 18 games than after Ronald Koeman’s sacking and Big Sam’s appointment last season. Slipping down to eleventh, does Marco Silva have to be worried? Just a little bit.

What a man! Ralph Hasenhüttl has won two of his three Premier League match in charge after Southampton beat Huddersfield 1:3 - only one victory fewer than Mark Hughes managed in 22 attempts as Saints boss, earning him the nickname “Klopp of the Alps”. Big celebrations for the big Austrian, taking his side up to 16th, three points clear from the drop zone, whilst huge problems are piling up for his counterpart David Wagner after his side's fifth consecutive league defeat keeps them stuck in 19th, four points away from safety. 
Former United stopper Ben Foster saved all seven shots on target, denying West Ham any way back into the match, Watford leaving the London Stadium 0-2 winners, taking them up to seventh, whilst the Hammers fell down to 12th.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær could not have asked for a better start as Manchester United interim manager, watching his side thrash Cardiff 1-5 in Wales. It was the first time since Sir Alex's last match in charge back in 2013 that the Red Devils scored five. Much in contrast to last week, the players looked less chaotic, passive and negative, much better, more organised, liberal, working, positive, taking initiative and control - winning! Mourinwho?!

What a goal! Townsend's belter for Palace mentioned above has to be listed and pointed out here again. You Beauty! 
Marcus Rashford's stunning free-kick opened the scoring for United against the Blue Birds after just three minutes, showing straight away where the afternoon was going at the Cardiff City Stadium. What a difference a week makes.
David Brooks produced two sublime finishes to make it 2-0 and an easy win for Bournemouth against ten-man Brighton, taking the sides to eighth and tenth place respectively. The opener was a low finish with his left foot (21’), the other a teasing flicking header up and over and in (77’) to bag and seal the three points. 

Jamie Vardy’s first-time finish in the box was a whacker of a winner (51’) and made his 250th appearance for Leicester so much sweeter, downing Chelsea 0-1 at Stamford Bridge, the Blues’ first home defeat of the season. Maurizio Sarri called it “mental confusion” after watching his side blasting and wasting plenty of chances and losing out in the end, the result lifting the Foxes up to ninth, whilst the London club trail the Reds at the top by eleven points. Next on the fixture list for Claude Puel’s men: Manchester City.

What the hell?! Sean Dyche was a very unhappy man reeling down the decisions that have gone against his side after Arsenal beat Burnley 3-1, and he had more than a point. It was the first time this season the Gunners led at the interval thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (14'), but cannot deny a lot of refereeing calls went their way. The Gabonese striker doubled the score shortly after the break (48') before Ashley Barnes pulled one back (63'). It was the latter who got an elbow in the face without any consequences and plenty other diving and close calls clearly went against the visitors at the Emirates. The Clarets have gone 61 Premier League games without a penalty, and with only 12 points after 18 games, it’s their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1970-71 (10 points), when they ultimately got relegated. Damned.

The dire 0-0 draw at Newcastle was Fulham's first clean sheet in 22 Premier League games! Rafa Benítez watched his side create zero attempts on target. Claudio Ranieri on the other hand, could be much more relieved, a point is better than nothing. Standards.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Wolves 0:3 Liverpool - 0:2

Arsenal 3:0 Burnley - 3:1

Bournemouth 1:1 Brighton - 2:0

Chelsea 2:1 Leicester - 0:1

Huddersfield 1:1 Southampton - 1:3

Man City 4:1 Crystal Palace - 2:3

Newcastle 2:1 Fulham - 0:0

West Ham 3:2 Watford - 0:2

Cardiff 2:2 Man United - 1:5

Everton 1:2 Tottenham - 2:6

Click here for last week's Premier League Picks.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match reports and live notes.

LFC Unable To Cope With PSG

Sports - Football - Champions League - PSG 2:1 LFC

Paris St Germain ended up easy 2-1 winners at the Parc des Princes, beating and frustrating the hell out of Liverpool, in their crucial Champions League group clash on Wednesday night.

The result means the Reds drop down to third in group C and will have to beat group-topping Napoli 1-0 or by two goals if they concede in the final and decisive group match on 11th December.

The French league leaders could not have asked for a better atmosphere and start to the match, Juan Bernat giving the hosts the lead, capitalising at the near post after Virgil van Dijk was unable to clear Kylian Mbappé’s cross into the box (13’).

Record-signing Neymar doubled the lead, slotting home from close range after Edinson Cavani’s attempt was saved by Alisson (37’).

James Milner pulled a goal back for the visitors after Sadio Mané was fouled in the box by Ángel Di María just before the break.

Referee Szymon Marciniak had originally given a corner before the linesman made him overturn his decision and point to the spot.

The Polish official was very inconsistent with his calls throughout the night, giving the hosts free kicks for every little touch and turn and dramatic fall, whilst the visitors were left wondering.

Marco Verratti was only cautioned when he lunged in with studs up onto Joe Gomez’s shin (24’) and got away with plenty more challenges after that, whilst one Liverpool player after another got booked (six in total).

Like Jürgen Klopp said after the match, the Reds were definitely not good enough, but the referee made it much worse:

“It looked like we were butchers when you look at the yellow cards we had. It was clever of PSG.”

Clever indeed, cause it frustrated the hell out of the visitors and they were unable to cope with the antiques and calculated overall control by Thomas Tuchel’s men.

The second half was interrupted again and again by someone rolling around, chances were hard to come by either end, any momentum impossible.

The Red front trio were covered well, surrounded whenever the ball came near them, any danger controlled and cleared quickly.

Marquinhos saw a goal disallowed for offside (47’) and his header from the centre of the box was kept out well by Brazilian compatriot Alisson (70’).

Gianluigi Buffon had nothing to do or even worry about on the other side of the pitch, the penalty being the only shot on target from the opposition.

In 16 years, Milner had never lost a game in which he scored, but records are there to be broken, and that one was shattered last night in Paris.

As painful as it was to watch, the Reds know they can do it, the kings of comebacks, just like they did in 2005. Again. And again. 

Klopp just has to look at and question his lineup and formation as it is just not working.

Jordan Henderson and Milner didn’t work too well together in the middle, Van Dijk and Gomez were disturbed by Dejan Lovren and at the front it’s still not clicking.

And it was harsh on Trent Alexander-Arnold and Xherdan Shaqiri, after their brill goals and displays in the league, not to give them a look into this crucial game.

Last season, the Reds were on fire, but leaked too much. This season, it seems like there is more stability but also a weird hesitance, odd caution, annoying softness, worrying weakness to the side, making it difficult for themselves to ignite that flame and take over and find that BOOM again.

When will it finally all click???

PSG Goals: Bernat 13’ and Neymar 37’.

LFC Goals: Milner pen 45’+1’.

Match Stats: PSG 2-1 LFC

Possession: 44%-56%

Shots: 12-8

On target: 8-1

Corners: 5-5

Fouls: 12-20

Bookings: 2-6

PSG Team: 1 Buffon; 14 Bernat, 3 Kimpembe, 2 Thiago Silva (c), 4 Kehrer; 10 Neymar (booked 90’+4’), 6 Verratti (booked 24’), 5 Marquinhos, 11 di María (13 da Silva 65’); 7 Mbappé (25 Rabiot 85’), 9 Cavani (17 Choupo-Mouting 65’). 4-4-2

Subs not used: 16 Areola, 23 Draxler, 27 Diaby, 34 N’Soki.

LFC Team: 13 Alisson; 26 Robertson (booked 90’+3’), 4 van Dijk (booked 90’+1’), 6 Lovren, 12 Gomez (booked 34’); 7 Milner (23 Shaqiri 77’), 14 Henderson (c), 5 Wijnaldum (booked 17’) (8 Keita 66’, booked 90’+5’); 10 Mané, 9 Firmino (15 Sturridge 71’, booked 84’), 11 Salah. 4-3-3

Subs not used: 3 Fabinho, 22 Mignolet, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold.

Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)

Man of the match: Marquinhos 

Ground: Parc des Princes

Attendance: 46,880

Click here for my last LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, post-match reaction and Sky Sports app.

Fighting Palace Fall 0-2 At Selhurst Park

Sports - Football - Premier League - PAL 0:2 LIV

Liverpool ended up 0-2 winners at Selhurst Park, thanks to a James Milner penalty (44') and injury-time goal from Sadio Mané (93'), but Crystal Palace certainly did not go down without a fight on Monday night.

Roy Hodgson was left fuming with some of the referee Michael Oliver’s decisions, including the Reds’ spot kick (44’) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s straight red card (75’). 

Jürgen Klopp was a very relieved and the much happier boss watching his side scrape and scratch out a win on the road.

Gulp, believe me when I say my heart was in my mouth for most of the match, it was so tense! Not an easy win, but all three points went to the Reds.

Here are my live match notes as it happened last night:

Both sides name unchanged sides from their wins on the season opening weekend, click here to read my Picks Of The Week 1, see the full line ups at the bottom of this blog.

It’s Liverpool’s 73rd Premier League game on a Monday, the most of any side.

15’ Action Areas: PAL 24%-68%-8% LIV, the Reds dominating, but not getting much from it.

25’ All LFC, till Keita giveaway, after Salah missed a couple of clear chances, Townsend's high powerful shot rises and dips over Alisson from outside the box, to come off the crossbar, first corner to the home side. CLOSE ONE!

28’ Hennessey saves Keita attempt on his near post, first Liverpool corner.

31’ Schlupp chance wide, for all the Red possession, Palace had the better, closer chances. Very important tackle by Gomez against Zaha on another counter!

34’ Possession: PAL 35%-65% LIV

35’ Robertson sends a chance high into the sky from just inside the box.

42’ first booking goes to van Aanholt for his scissor tackle on Milner who got away with a very physical challenge unnoticed shortly before.

44’ PENALTY! Salah down against Sakho, tangle and tackle, grabbing the shirt, kicking out more than once, clumsy challenge, theatrical fall but Michael Oliver had a perfect view.

45’ Milner takes AND SCORES! Hennessey dived the other way, the ball hits the back of the net!

One minute added on, home fans and team furious, boos all round, HT 0-1, better and closer chances for the hosts, however the dominating but wasteful visitors are leading from the spot.

Milner’s last 9 goals have all come from the spot, totalling 49 career PL goals and the Red skipper has not been on the losing side in any of the previous 47 PL games in which he has scored.

49’ Salah overruns, Keita puts it wide, a couple of chances wasted. The Egyptian king is not at his best so far, could and should have netted a couple at least.

52’ Alexander-Arnold booked for bringing down Zaha, failing against the forward’s fine run and trickery.

53’ Alisson saves Milivojevic’s top free kick, curling up and around the wall, punched away to the keeper’s left with both gloves.

55’ Palace corner, Selhurst Park getting louder, the home side have their tails up, Benteke with a high leap and powerful header, Alisson gets down to save it, the ref has whistled anyway. The Reds are under pressure, two attempts on target for the home side this half!

59’ 2nd half possession PAL 65%-35% LIV, Hodgson said something right at the break, the hosts are much more in the game since the restart!!!

67’ Henderson replaces Milner, Liverpool pushing and bossing a bit more again, but the skipper looked more and more frustrated, giving away a couple of reckless fouls. Benteke wasted a good chance high and wide earlier.

70’ Salah slips in the box, offside anyway.

71’ Sorloth replaces Benteke, that change was long overdue, it has not been a good game for the former Liverpool forward.

73’ Alisson collects Zaha's low shot, could’ve been fooled and beaten there by his own defender, but wasn’t.

75’ Salah breaks, runs solo, youngster Wan-Bissaka, who has had a brill match, takes the Egyptian down from behind, he was the last man. Michael Oliver doesn’t hesitate. STRAIGHT RED, Palace down to ten men for the last quarter of an hour.

77’ The free kick is right on the edge of the box, Salah takes, it comes off the wall and goes out for a corner, Hennessey was beaten there, but punches the corner clear and catches the rebound.

79’ Hodgson takes Townsend off, who has had the best chances, Ward replaces him.

80’ Sakho cooly chests the ball to his keeper Hennessey, Liverpool in command.

81’ Low shot by Mané off Salah in the box, Hennessey blocks and collects kneeling down.

82’ Penalty shout for Palace against Wijnaldum, did he get the ball cleanly? Yep, good tackle on McArthur actually.

83’ Meyer comes on for Schlupp, last change by Hodgson.

84’ Hennessey punches over Salah’s attempt, collects the resulting corner, keeping the home side’s glimmer of hope alive.

85’ Zaha pass across the box, finds no one... Gulp...

87’ Lallana comes on for Keita after an impressive performance.

90’ Firmino goes down in the box against a fine tackle by Tomkins, but he is outside the box, so, play continues, ten against ten.

FOUR minutes added on.

Free kick to Palace on the right, Lallana brought down Ward... Tense last seconds... Corner to the home side... Liverpool counter! Salah run, pass to Mané who keeps balance and composure to stay up and going past defender and keeper and scores! 0-2 and relief for the Reds!

Firmino is replaced by Sturridge in the final seconds.

Palace win another corner but it ends 0-2!!! Not top but strong and stubborn performance by the Reds, especially new signings Alisson and Keita impressed, and of course MOTM van Dijk! Another clean sheet and it's the first time under Klopp the Reds have won the first two opening games of the season! BOOM!

Liverpool Goals: Milner pen 45’ & Mané 93’. 

HT Stats: PAL 0-1 LIV

Possession: 32.2%-67.8%

Shots: 3-7

On target: 0-2

Offside: 1-1

Corners: 1-1

Fouls: 4-7

Bookings: 1-0

FT Stats: PAL 0-2 LIV

Possession: 36.9%-63.1%

Shots: 8-16

On target: 2-6

Offside: 2-2

Corners: 6-7

Fouls: 6-13

Bookings: 1-1

Red cards: 1-0

Crystal Palace Team: 13 Hennessey; 29 Wan-Bissaka (sent off 75’), 5 Tomkins, 12 Sakho, 3 van Aanholt (booked 42’); 15 Schlupp (7 Meyer 83’), 18 McArthur, 4 Milivojevic (c), 10 Townsend (2 Ward 72’); 11 Zaha, 17 Benteke (9 Sørloth 71’). 4-4-2

Subs not used: 31 Guaita, 8 Kouyaté, 14 Ayew, 34 Kelly.

Liverpool Team: 13 Alisson; 66 Alexander-Arnold (booked 52’), 4 Van Dijk, 12 Gomez, 26 Robertson; 8 Keita (20 Lallana 87’), 5 Wijnaldum, 7 Milner (c) (14 Henderson 67’); 11 Salah, 9 Firmino (15 Sturridge 94’), 10 Mané. 4-3-3

Subs not used: 22 Mignolet, 18 Moreno, 23 Shaqiri, 32 Matip.

Referee: Michael Oliver

Man of the match: Virgil van Dijk

Ground: Selhurst Park

Attendance: 25,750

Click here for my last LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and Sky Sports app and coverage.

Reds Bash Hammers 4-0

Sports - Football - Premier League - LFC 4:0 WHU

Liverpool recorded their 500th Premier League win in convincing fashion, beating West Ham comfortably 4-0 in their season opener at Anfield on Sunday early afternoon.

The home side impressed and dominated possession and play from kick-off with their front trio constantly threatening, Egyptian king Mohamed Salah taking only 19 minutes to tap in the opener from Andy Robertson’s precise cross.

An unmarked Sadio Mané doubled the lead from close range just before the break, becoming the first LFC player to score in three consecutive opening top-flight fixtures since John Barnes between 1989-92.

The Senegalese forward looked offside when he drilled in his second off Roberto Firmino’s pass to make it 3-0 to the Reds after the interval, but the flag stayed down, replays showing some oh-so-slight deflection off a Hammer.

New signing Naby Keita impressed with a driving performance as well, with some slick moves and plenty of tempo, also contributing to the first goal.

Meanwhile skipper James Milner bossed the pitch from start to finish (rugby-style with a headband wrapped around the stitches on his forehead), and Virgil van Dijk’s presence was heard, felt and seen at the back for the Reds.

Substitute Daniel Sturridge added to the party scoring with his first touch, 24 seconds after coming on in the 87th minute, making it 4-0 and sealing Liverpool’s biggest opening home league win since 1932. 

New Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini watched his side being well beaten and not giving the new Red record-signing keeper Alisson Becker much to do, easily catching Fabián Balbuena's header, one of just the two attempts on target for the visitors.

And the defeat could have been heavier with chance after chance for the home side, leaving Jürgen Klopp all smiles and full of praise, the German could not have asked for a better start to the new season, but also warning of the bigger and harder challenges ahead.

Liverpool Goals: Salah 19’, Mané 47’ & 53’ & Sturridge 88’.

Match Stats: LFC 4-0 WHU

Possession: 64.8%-35.2%

Shots: 18-5

On target: 8-2

Corners: 5-4

Offsides: 5-3

Fouls: 14-9

Bookings: 1-2

Liverpool Team: 13 Alisson; 26 Robertson, 4 van Dijk, 12 Gomez, 66 Alexander-Arnold (booked 21’); 9 Keita, 5 Wijnaldum, 7 Milner (c); 10 Mané (23 Shaqiri 82’), 9 Firmino (14 Henderson 69’), 11 Salah (15 Sturridge 87’). 4-3-3

Subs not used: 1 Karius, 2 Clyne, 3 Fabinho, 20 Lallana.

West Ham Team: 1 Fabianski; 26 Masuaku, 21 Ogbonna, 4 Balbuena (booked 55’), 24 Fredericks; 41 Rice (11 Snodgrass 45’), 16 Noble (c); 8 Anderson (17 Hernández 62’), 19 Wilshere, 30 Antonio (booked 52’); 7 Arnautovic.

Subs not used: 5 Zabaleta, 13 Adrián, 14 Obiang, 20 Yarmolenko, 23 Diop.

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Ground: Anfield

Attendance: 53,235

Man of the match: Sadio Mané

Click here for my last LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Sky Sports coverage and app and Twitter.

Dire Goalless Draw Not Helped By Ref

Sports - Football - Premier League- LIV 0:0 STK

It ended goalless between Liverpool and Stoke City in the lunchtime kickoff on Saturday, the Potters squeezing out a point and keeping their manager Paul Lambert’s unbeaten record at Anfield intact, a Premier League record of five games without defeat (5 = 2W 3D).

The home side did dominate as expected, star man Mohamed Salah missed a sitter early on and put a free kick wide.

With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out injured for the rest of the season, young defender Trent Alexander-Arnold played in a more attacking position, stumbling and wasting a great chance in the box.

Danny Ings, in place of a not-yet-fit Sadio Mané up front, saw his goal disallowed, flagged offside, so close.

Stubborn and very physical, the visitors had a couple of chances as well, nothing to worry Loris Karius too much though.

The second half continued dragging and frustrating for Jürgen Klopp and his men.

There was a handball appeal against man of the match defender Erik Pieters late on, who certainly gave his all, Georginio Wijnaldum was furious with the officials.

Virgil van Dijk was booked seconds later, Ryan Shawcross threatened with a chance but missed, it was end to end stuff in the final minutes.

James Milner was not happy with the referee either, nothing given after he was felled down, unlike when he had challenged to win the ball earlier on.

Six minutes were added on for all the injuries, Wijnaldum headed high, everyone in white surrounding Salah.

The great Egyptian looked tired, producing seven shots, none on target, the most he has had without scoring in a single game for Liverpool in all competitions. 

Roberto Firmino saw his penalty appeal in the final seconds ignored, Pieters getting away with it again, hugs all round as replays showed.

The Reds will be rightly disappointed to not have gotten more out of the match they bossed throughout, but the final edge was missing.

It was the first time in nine games the Reds failed to score at home in the league, since drawing 0-0 against West Brom in December, netting 27 in the eight games between the two goalless draws.

Klopp and co will be glad not to have more names added to the injury list after a very physical game with a lot of clashes and ouches, Jordan Henderson going down at the end of the first half but continued after treatment.

Next is the second and decisive leg of the Champions League semi-final in Rome on Wednesday before a trip to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League at the weekend with Chelsea looking to break into the top four.

Stoke meanwhile are three points from safety with two games left to play in the league (against Crystal Palace next weekend and at Swansea on the final day).

HT Stats: LIV 0-0 STK

Possession: 66%-34%

Shots: 7-1

On target: 1-0

Corners: 0-2

Fouls: 2-10

Yellow cards: 0-2

FT Stats: LIV 0-0 STK

Possession: 72%-28%

Shots: 19-5

On target: 2-1

Corners: 9-2

Fouls: 7-14

Yellow cards: 1-2

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 17 Klavan, 4 van Dijk (booked 88’), 12 Gomez; 18 Moreno, 5 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson (c), 66 Alexander-Arnold (2 Clyne 65’); 28 Ings (7 Milner 65’), 9 Firmino, 11 Salah. 3-4-3 on Sky & PL apps, good old 4-3-3 on BBC & SFR with 18 & 66 completing the back line whilst 12 is in the middle... Bit of both in the end, sometimes back 5!!!

Subs not used: 6 Lovren, 22 Mignolet, 26 Robertson, 29 Solanke, 58 Woodburn.

Stoke City Team: 1 Butland; 3 Pieters, 15 Martins Indi (32 Sobhi Ahmed 52’), 17 Shawcross (c), 6 Zouma; 2 Bauer, 27 Ndiaye, 4 Allen, 22 Shaqiri; 25 Crouch (booked 36’) (24 Fletcher 65’), 18 Diouf (booked 42’). 4-4-2

Subs not used: 7 Ireland, 16 Adam, 20 Cameron, 29 Haugaard, 40 Campbell.

Referee: Andre Marriner

Man of the match: Erik Pieters

Ground: Anfield

Attendance: 53,255

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the Sky Sports and BBC match reports, Twitter, Sky Sports and Premier League apps and SFR coverage.