Super Suarez Stuns Stoke

Liverpool started the game with a number of changes the most notable of which was that Kyrgiakos came in to the centre of the defence which meant the Liverpool played three centre backs and stuck with Johnson at left back and Kelly at right back. Meireles was behind Kuyt up front and Gerrard Lucas and Aurelio completed the midfield. After a busy transfer deadline day Luis Suarez was on the bench and Andy Carroll greeted the crowd before the game but is still out for about another 3 weeks with a thigh strain.
The defensive formation wasn't expected by the Anfield faithful and for large periods of the first half it didn't look like it was working but the team worked hard together and as expected with five at the back they kept Stoke out as they too played a defensive game. Suarez then changed the game by heading out to warm up and this lifted the crowd and then a few quick fire headers firstly from Johnson and then from Kuyt followed. Begovic in the Stoke goal did well to stop them both and he also prevented Kuyt again as the Dutchman had a few more half chances in the first 45mins. 

The team celebrates after Meireles gave them the lead.



After the break Liverpool went straight back on to the attack and a good run from the back by Agger was stopped by former red Salif Diao and the following free kick lead to the first goal. Gerrard's cross/shot was deflected into the path of Kyrgiakos who calmly controlled the ball inside the area and touched it back to Meireles who lashed in his 3rd Liverpool goal in 4 games, much to the delight of the Liverpool fans. Another thing that was to the delight of the Liverpool fans was the sight of one of their new signings coming on and it didn't take Suarez long to make an impact. A Kuyt flick released Liverpool's new number seven on goal and Suarez rounded Begovic in the Stoke goal and rolled it goal wards for a 2-0 lead. Wilkinson got a boot to the striker's shot but he could only help it into the net off the post but it will be classed as a Suarez goal as it was on target and it's his first goal on a near perfect start for the £23million man. After the game manager Kenny Dalglish confirmed that Suarez hadn't even had a training session with the rest of the team but he had already shown some great links with Kuyt and Gerrard in particular and he always wanted the ball and kept moving. If this performance was any think to go by then Liverpool have got a very special talent and when Carroll recovers from injury there is the prospect of another great partnership.



Suarez celebrates after his debut goal.

The result kept the reds in 7th and made it three wins in three for Liverpool after the wins against Wolves away and against Fulham at home last week, and continued to show that they are on the way up. Next up for Liverpool is Chelsea away on Sunday in which all the players should be up for following a certain Spaniard's derogatory comments.





Suarez showed signs of real quality in his first game.