Liverpool fight back to grab win
Liverpool’s prolific forward line delivered again in a 4-1 win over Stoke in the English Premier League yesterday, lifting the team back into second place and within six points of Chelsea.
Liverpool fought back from conceding in the 12th minute at Anfield, with Brazil forward Roberto Firmino among the scorers with his sixth league goal of the season – three days after he was charged by police with drunk-driving in Liverpool city centre.
Playmaker Adam Lallana equalised in the 34th minute and Firmino added the second just before halftime. Liverpool stretched the lead in the second half through an own-goal by Giannelli Imbula and Daniel Sturridge’s first league goal of the season with his first touches after coming on a substitute.
Liverpool only got going once they fell behind. Erik Pieters provided the cross from the left and Jon Walters glanced in a header at the near post that Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.
Stoke were the architect of their own downfall at times, with Lallana finding the net after Glen Johnson failing to clear a cross.
Firmino started despite his off-field issue and repaid Klopp’s loyalty by slamming home an angled left-foot shot that hit one post, careered across the line to hit the other and rebound in. Imbula turned in a 60th-minute cross from the left wing by Divock Origi, who was then replaced by Sturridge.
Sturridge was alert to intercept a back-pass by Ryan Shawcross, round goalkeeper Lee Grant and slot a finish into the empty net.