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Liverpool held at home by Stoke
Liverpool failed to secure their first home win of the season in the Barclays Premiership when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Stoke City at Anfield on Saturday.
The Reds dominated possession and created a number of scoring chances, but they lacked the firepower upfront to make it count as Luis Suarez was often left isolated.
Former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam should have put the visitors ahead in the 5th minute when he was put through on the left side of the penalty area, but Pepe Reina came out of his line in time to make a crucial block.
The Potters continued to create the early pressure and two minutes later Jonathan Walters fired a powerful shot from the distance, but failed to hit the target as the ball flew over the crossbar.
Liverpool then started to take control of the match and came close to taking the lead in the 18th minute from a well-constructed move, but Suarez saw his goalbound shot blocked by Ryan Shawcross.
Nine minutes later captain Steven Gerrard tested Amir Begovic with a piledriver after receiving a pass from Suarez, but the Bosnian goalkeeper managed to push the ball wide to his left.
The closest chance for the Reds came in the 29th minute when Suso chipped his cross towards Daniel Agger at the far post, but the defender poked the ball inches wide of the post.
Six minutes later Raheem Sterling started a counterattack which saw Suarez finding Gerrard on the right, but this time the Liverpool captain pulled his low shot wide.
The hosts continued to keep Stoke pinned in their own half in the second half with Glen Johnson forcing a save from Begovic in the 50th minute, before shooting over the crossbar two minutes later.
Then in the 59th minute Luis Suarez had half a chance to nudge his side ahead from the centre of the box, but he hurried his left-footed shot wide before Steven N'Zonzi also missed the target at the other end.
The last twenty minutes saw the visitors keeping everyone behind the ball as they looked to hold on for a draw, but Sterling saw his effort coming off the outside of the post in the 72nd minute.
Nine minutes later it was Suarez who dribbled his way past the Stoke defence on the right, but in the end his shot from a tight angle also came of the post.
Brendan Rodgers’ men hit the woodwork for the third time in the 90th minute when defender Martin Skrtel sneaked in at the far post, only for his shot to clip the far post with the goalkeeper well-beaten, forcing the two sides to share the spoils.
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