Stubborn Stoke frustrate Reds

Frustration was yet again the overwhelming emotion at full time at Anfield yesterday, as Liverpool failed to break down Stoke City's typically stubborn defence and had to settle for a goalless draw, which will do little to improve their disappointing league position.The stalemate means that the Reds are yet to register a win at home in the League this campaign and, perhaps more worryingly, have failed to achieve back-to-back League victories since December 2011.

Andre Wisdom was handed his home debut, while Sterling and Suso returned to the starting line-up as Brendan Rodgers made eight changes to the team that succumbed to a 3-2 defeat against Udinese only three days earlier. Meanwhile, Michael Owen, who was linked with a controversial return to Anfield in the summer after his contract ran out at rivals Manchester United, didn't even make the bench for Tony Pulis' side, sparing the 32-year old an inevitable barrage of abuse.

In the opening 20 minutes, Stoke went close to capitalising on Liverpool's mistakes and taking the lead on two occasions. First, Sahin's pass back towards Reina was woefully inept and allowed ex-Red Charlie Adam to go one-on-one with his former teammate. Fortunately, the Spaniard's decent save spared Sahin's blushes.

Reina prevents Adam breaking the deadlock

Reina was then almost responsible for gifting the visitors the lead soon after, as his wayward pass went to Walters, whose chipped effort was turned over the bar by the back-tracking number 25. In between, trademark trickery from Suarez down the left wing saw him leave a couple of Stoke defenders chasing shadows before cutting the ball back for Sahin, whose drive was blocked.

Nevertheless, the game remained scrappy, as Stoke's dogged and determined defensive play, in particular their closing down, denied the hosts the space to play the expansive passing game they enjoy. Gerrard's 25-yard strike was turned behind by Begovic and Agger got a toe to Suso's incisive pass, sending the ball inches wide, but clear cut chances remained few and far between. 

There was still time for Gerrard to drag wide after good build-up work from Suarez and Sterling, before the Reds' attack gained additional potency after the interval, with the on-form Glen Johnson going close twice in the opening stages of the second period. After Begovic parried his strike from range five minutes after the restart, Johnson perfectly timed a run to reach Gerrard's imaginative pass and hook just over the bar.

On the hour mark, Suarez almost opened the scoring in sensational fashion. The Uruguyuan seemingly took on the entire Stoke defence single-handedly, embarking on a mazy dribble from the half-way line before striking wide left-footed when he really should have found the back of the net. 

Unfortunately, the other side of Suarez's character was soon on display, as he ridiculously dived in the penalty area when no challenge had been made. It was embarrassing stuff from the controversial number seven, but Tony Pulis' calls for him to be banned after the match are simply intended to divert attention from Huth's earlier stamp on Suarez's chest, which was a far more serious offence that should be looked at by the FA, and the fact that six Stoke players were booked due to their overly physical approach to dealing with the threat posed by Suarez.

The home side continued to search for that elusive goal, while the visitors appeared content to keep hold of a point. Sterling displayed his naivety 20 minutes from time when he shot against the base of the post instead of cutting the ball back for those better placed. Suarez also shot into the side-netting from an impossible angle, before Skrtel went closest to securing a late winner in the last minute of normal time. The Slovakian's hooked effort from Cole's ball into the box grazed the far post on its way agonisingly wide.

Skrtel sees his strike go inches wide

It was a fitting way to round off an exasperating afternoon of Premier League football, in which Liverpool were so close yet so far from collecting three crucial points. At risk of repeating myself, the Reds just lacked a cutting edge up front once again. Stoke performed exactly as expected- defensively, with plenty of men behind the ball and little desire to attack. It was Liverpool's task to find a way to break down their defence and beat Begovic.

Unfortunately, they weren't up to that task and, as a result, the Reds' worst start to the season in over a century continues. 

YNWA