PERFECTLY DAN TO WIN IT IN STYLE
JURGEN KLOPP reckons Daniel Sturridge scored the “perfect goal” to complete Liverpool’s rout over Stoke.
The Reds came from behind after Jon Walters headed in the opener with goals from Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino in the first half.
Giannelli Imbula directed Divock Origi’s cross into his own net to put Liverpool three up after the break before Sturridge sealed the win.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was at Anfield to witness the Reds move one point ahead in second place in the Premier League table ahead of Saturday’s clash.
Klopp now has to decide whether or not to start Sturridge against City after a reminder of his calmness in one-on-one situations.
The German said: “It was a perfect goal. In a situation like this at 3-1 up but still intense, if you can then use the quality Daniel has, then it’s perfect.
“I heard Pep was here tonight. That is a first sign it’s a special game and we’re looking forward to it.
“They are an outstanding side and we are not too bad so it will be a nice game.
“We can do better than we did tonight but it was absolutely OK.”
The first quarter of the match was a reminder of Liverpool’s occasional defensive vulnerability.
Simon Mignolet should have saved Walters’s closerange header in the 12th minute but if his toes had not turned away a Joe Allen effort, matters could have taken a different turn.
Lallana swept home the equaliser from an acute angle after Glen Johnson failed to clear the danger inside his six-yard box.
Firmino then used both posts to put Liverpool ahead with a left-footed finish before the break.
Jordan Henderson’s pass freed Origi to cross with the almost inevitable consequence of Imbula, harried by the irrepressible Sadio Mane, turning into his own net in the second half.
All that was left was for Sturridge to be summoned. Gifted by Ryan Shawcross in the 70th minute, he shuffled around Lee Grant to end a run of 656 minutes without a league goal. ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE LIVERPOOL ....... 4 STOKE CITY ............ 1