SILENCE OF THE LAMB
Potters boss keeps up his jinx on Reds ... and quells Kop
PAUL LAMBERT amazingly kept up his outstanding record of never losing a Premier League game at Anfield as manager.
The Scot has now won two and drawn three – and he was bursting with pride at the way his team fought for their Premier League lives to keep the Kop quiet.
“It is a brilliant result against a team that has been on fire,” said a delighted Lambert.
His opposite number, Jurgen Klopp, must have known it was going to be one of those days from the moment Mo Salah missed the kind of chance he has been taking with his eyes closed. When Liverpool’s Egyptian forward was sent clear by skipper Jordan Henderson with just five minutes on the clock, it seemed a mere formality that Anfield would be rising as one to celebrate magic Mo’s 44th goal of the season.
Salah took away the one obstacle in his way by putting Stoke keeper Jack Butland on his backside with a deft shimmy.
But, instead of finding the corner of the net, he sent his shot bouncing six inches wide.
The man, who had scored in 14 of his previous 16 games, had blown what would be the best chance of the game.
So Salah’s wait to claim his 32nd Premier League goal of the season – and the goalscoring record he currently holds alongside Alan
Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez – goes on.
And a Liverpool team standing on the brink of reaching the Champions League Final, still need three points from games against Chelsea and Brighton to finish in the top four.
Klopp remained philosophical.
“I will take the point,” he said. “It could prove to be very important.
“It could have been better and it could have been worse, but it’s a point we didn’t have and it means we need another three to finish in the top four.
“If football is fair, then we will get those three points.” The Potters’ wait for their first top-flight win at Anfield goes on, but that didn’t diminish the pride Lambert felt. “To come here and play the way we did was excellent,” he said. “We are still in with a fight, but we have a chance. And that’s all we’ve wanted – a chance. If we had played like that more often this season, we wouldn’t be in the position we’re in.” Klopp made five changes to the team that did him proud last week in the Champions League against Roma – and the drop in quality was clear. Liverpool had 20 efforts on goal – the most they have managed without scoring for four years. Just two of them were on target. Stoke deserved what good fortune they had.
Erik Pieters didn’t let Salah escape him again and Kurt Zouma was just as uncompromising.
Trent Alexander-Arnold shot wastefully straight at Butland just after Salah’s eye-popping miss.
And, on another day, referee Andre Marriner would have given a penalty when Gini Wijnaldum’s cross struck the arm of Pieters.
But less than a minute after Pieters had been given the benefit of referee Marriner’s doubt, the Potters came within a fraction of claiming three precious points.
Mame Diouf hooked a shot across the face of Loris Karius’ goal and Ryan Shawcross just couldn’t stretch himself enough at the far post to nudge the ball in.