Liverpool stayed fourth in the Premier League table by winning for the first time in the top flight at Stoke City since 1984 in memorable fashion. The Reds bested their hosts in a thrilling encounter that contained eight goals. Ryan Shawcross put through his own net early on before Luis Suarez nipped in on another defensive error that put Brendan Rodgers's boys 2-0 up. Peter Crouch and Charlie Adam came back to haunt their former club, however, and brought the Potters level by half time. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard restored their lead after the break through a softly won penalty courtesy of Raheem Sterling. Suarez then struck again when set up by the returning Daniel Sturridge to make it 4-2 to the visitors. Jon Walters set up a grandstand finish for Stoke, but Sturridge settled the points in the Reds' favour. This fantastic advert for Premier League football contained some abysmal defending, breath-taking football on the counter and much, much more. Both teams had to make enforced changes. Oussama Assaidi was ineligible for the Potters to face his parent club, so Marko Arnautovic switched flanks. Liverpool meanwhile had Kolo Toure in defence because of injury to Daniel Agger. Who impressed the WhatCulture sports team in this high octane encounter? Click next to read our player ratings, starting with Stoke.
Jamie Clark is a qualified Web Journalist after undergoing professional training at the University of Sheffield. A prolific and accredited sports writer, he also enjoys classic comedy, historic fiction, 80s music and heritage.
