Liverpool recorded their third consecutive victory as they beat Stoke City 2-0 at Anfield, with new signing Luis Suarez grabbing the second after coming off the bench.
Raul Meireles continued his scoring streak when he opened the scoring shortly after the interval.
Kenny Dalglish produced an interesting line-up and formation, deploying Fabio Aurelio in centre midfield – the Reds answer to Charlie Adam perhaps, with Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly as wing-backs.
Although the overall performance wasn’t superlative, Liverpool did dominate possession and chances, with Pepe Reina only being forced to make one save from close range shortly after going two ahead.
Record signing Andy Carroll was introduced to the Anfield crowd prior to kick-off and watched from the directors box alongside Damien Comolli – who was clearly ecstatic with Suarez’s goal.
The Uruguayan came on for Aurelio with 30 minutes remaining and got his debut goal when he sprinted onto a good ball by the industrious Dirk Kuyt, rounded the keeper and his scuffed shot was bundled in by defender Andy Wilkinson as he attempted to clear. The grin on Suarez’s face signalled the start of a new era of Kop adulation.
Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic produce an excellent save from a Glen Johnson header with the score at 0-0, but Meireles opened the scoring by grabbing his third goal in four games. He powered the ball into the Kop net after Krygiakos shielded the ball from a corner.
Liverpool remain in seventh but just two points behind sixth placed Sunderland.
Tonight’s Other Results:
Bolton Wanderers 1 – 0 Wolves
Blackburn Rovers 0 – 1 Tottenham
Fulham 1 – 0 Newcastle United
Blackpool 1 – 3 West Ham United
Birmingham City 2 – 2 Man City
Liverpool: Reina, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Agger, Kelly, Johnson, Lucas, Meireles (Shelvey 75), Aurelio (Suarez 63), Gerrard, Kuyt.
Subs not used:: Gulacsi, Carragher, Wilson, Maxi, Ngog.
Booked: Johnson 55.
Goals: Meireles 47, Suarez 79
Stoke City: Begovic, Higginbotham, Huth, Wilson (Fuller), Wilkinson, Pennant, Diao (Delap), Whitehead, Faye (Collins), Walters, Carew.
Subs not used: Sorensen, Whelan, Etherington, Jones.
Booked: Huth 41, Diao 46, Carew 50, Collins 81.
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 40,254
