What a fvcking game!
Dare I say it, I felt we were fortunate and of the edge of it for a good 60 odd minutes. And credit to Stoke for this (I don't like them), their work rate and commitment and our defensive vulnerability ensured they could keep knocking on the door for most of this match. We have a touch of the Kevin Keegan's and I'm not sure I like it personally, we just can't shut teams out even at 2-0 up.
Our first goal was lucky, our second one was 'crash bang wallop' from Skertel and Suarez who personifies Stoke collectively chased a hopeful smash, and stuck with it to give us a two goal lead. During Cissoko's deflection and Suarez's goal Coutinho had an effort that he should have done better with. His shooting is ordinary and I thought we'd pay the price for this. Suarez scores. Crouch replies with a great header which I thought both Johnson especially (who looks very laboured at the minute) and Suarez should have done better in preventing the cross. Coutinho then has another chance at 2-1 up with a volley and I was cursing him and his shooting by then because I know we're susceptible to conceding goals. Then, Adam scores a cracker which I thought Skertel could have done a bit better with, closing down (BTW I thought both Toure and Skertel had a decent game).
2-2 at half time and I thought here we go, we've conceded a 2 goal lead again, Stoke are on the up and then we get what IMO was a soft penalty; but one never the less, because had that have been anywhere else on the pitch a free kick would have been given; not by Mason or Webb I might add but still... All this was happening while Lucas was playing an advanced role
and he to me looked like a fish out of water which isn't surprising since he hasn't had sight of an oppositions goal since his Gremio days.
Rodgers then makes a great substitution, quite a bold one really when most pragmatic managers would have brought on another defensive minded player in those circumstances - he brings on Sturridge! We revert to a 4-4-2 and it was a bit reassuring at this point to see Lucas sit next to Gerrard
even though I don't think it's our best formula to win matches 
but at this point in time it was. I think the 4-3-3 is slightly better because we look really fluid going forward. Yet we still have the players to make a 4-4-2 look fluid and anything unlike the one Roy Hodgson uses, but I'm not sure about the midfield as much in this system, or the personnel at least.. Anyway, I digress, Sturridge makes an immediate impact with his pace and directness, then minutes later he lays a ball out wide without looking up after turning a Stoke defender for Luis Suarez to score a peach of a pass into the back of the net!!!
Finally, we looked as if we had taken the game by the scruff of the neck and we're in control, then they score a goal which I think Mignolet should have done better with. Overall I thought our keeper looked ropey today, primarily because his weakness is commanding his box and coming to take all the set-pieces Adam & co whipped in. 4-3 and I thought,
this is going to end 4-4 absolutely bricking it I was, then Suarez and Sturridge combine and Daniel does brilliant to finish that effort off to make it 5-3. A great return for him a substitution that paid dividends for Rodgers to. On a side note, it's a slight concern to me re the temperament of both SAS when one is in a better position than the other but the other rather takes the individual option leaving his striking partner looking bemused or throwing his hands in the air.
In the end, as much as I have applauded Stoke for their commitment our lads showed remarkable character to end a hoodoo on that ground in an hostile atmosphere where the conditions suited our opponents more. I thought that our CB's were good and our fullbacks not so. I have always been a fan of Johnson and have always defended him as I believe he used to get unwarranted stick but his form over the last ten games or so has been abysmal. Cissoko scares the $hit out of me and I have kittens when he's on the ball in our defensive third. He also isn't a willing runner going forward and at times will withdraw himself as an option down the flank which isn't good to see.
Gerrard had the holding role to himself and overall he was very good. He made 2 or 3 bogus passes that put us immediately on the back foot but his defensive duties were sound, and his passing apart from that was good. He likes to force the play with his passes sometimes (I don't mind that because when it pays off and mostly is does we can open sides up) but when those risky passes are intercepted it tends to put us straight on the back foot. He needs to pick these out better at times, but it's good to have a player with that range of passing at the axis of midfield.
Sterling I thought again was very good and lively. His recent form has helped this team no end and he has been a key player. His pace to exploit and threaten defenses again has massively picked up - like last season and his tracking back for the team is good to. He seems to link up really well with Suarez and I think the Uruguayan enjoys him in the team as Raheem always looks to link up and do something in the final third for Suarez and the team.
An important three points, a thrilling game to watch, well done to Brendan and the boys for being the second team to win at the Britannia this season!'
