Stoke City 1-2 Liverpool - BBC Sport
Liverpool come from behind to beat Stoke City in a dramatic game and stay on course for a top-four Premier League finish.
Last updated on .From the section Football

Liverpool came from behind to beat Stoke City and stay on course for a top-four finish thanks to goals by substitutes Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.

Unmarked Jon Walters headed the hosts into the lead after meeting Xherdan Shaqiri's cross, as the Reds failed to register a first-half effort on target.

Coutinho levelled with a first-time shot before Firmino smashed the bouncing ball beyond keeper Lee Grant after Georginio Wijnaldum's pass.

Liverpool remain third in the Premier League table.
• None Relive the action between Stoke and Liverpool

Much has been made of Liverpool's inability to beat teams in the bottom half of the table and for 45 minutes it looked like they were heading for defeat against a team that started the day 12th.

Klopp started with 17-year-old Ben Woodburn and 18-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold, while opting to keep Coutinho, who was ill during Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, and Firmino on the bench.

It looked like his plan to give youth a chance had backfired as Walters was left totally unmarked to bury Shaqiri's inch-perfect cross past Simon Mignolet.

It was only after the introduction of Brazilian duo Coutinho and Firmino at the start of the second half - in place of Woodburn and Alexander-Arnold - that Liverpool played like a team chasing a Champions League spot.

Dejan Lovren headed against the bar before Coutinho swept home the equaliser from 12 yards out.

Liverpool fans were still celebrating when Firmino lashed a dipping shot over Grant from 22 yards, a sublime goal worthy of winning any match.

Mignolet still had to produce a fine save to deny Saido Berahino, but Liverpool hung on to move nine points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal, although the Reds have played three games more.

Stoke slipped to 13th in the table after a fourth successive league defeat.

They were the better team in the first half but Mark Hughes' side remain without a win against a team currently in the top six - eight defeats in 11 games.

At 1-0 they wasted a great chance to double the lead when Charlie Adam was denied at close range by Mignolet after a terrible mistake by Wijnaldum.

Had that gone it, it could have been a different story.

The Potters still need another four points to reach 40 with six fixtures left, including a home match against Arsenal.

They ought do it with games to spare - but they need to escape this losing run before it causes serious damage.

'I couldn't feel any better' - what the managers said

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes: "We needed to take our chances and capitalise when we were on top. I was happy, we were good value at 1-0 and restricted them to very little.

"Second half they brought their big hitters on, which made an impact, but it took a mistake from us.

"It was a long ball down the middle and we should have dealt with it. When those are the things that are happening you think maybe it's not your day."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "Philippe Coutinho lost three kilos in the past three days, which some people wish - but for a professional footballer it's not too cool.

"Simon Mignolet saved our life. Job done, feels good. Nice weather, 63 points and I couldn't feel any better.

"Now we have a long week. No team in the world wins only the very, very good games. You need to win games like this."
• None Liverpool have won more points from losing positions than any other Premier League team this season (18).
• None There were just 126 seconds between Liverpool's first and second goals.
• None Walters has scored seven times against Liverpool in the Premier League, more than he has against any other side.
• None Wijnaldum has provided six Premier League assists this season, one more than he registered for Newcastle in 2015-16.
• None Klopp's side won their first away Premier League game of 2017.

Stoke can end a four-match losing run at home to Hull City on Saturday, 15 April (15:00 BST), while Liverpool are away at West Brom the following day (13:30).
• None Offside, Stoke City. Marko Arnautovic tries a through ball, but Ramadan Sobhi is caught offside.
• None Attempt blocked. Emre Can (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Philippe Coutinho.
• None Offside, Stoke City. Erik Pieters tries a through ball, but Ramadan Sobhi is caught offside.
• None Substitution, Stoke City. Ramadan Sobhi replaces Charlie Adam because of an injury.
• None Attempt blocked. Emre Can (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
• None Attempt saved. Saido Berahino (Stoke City) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Marko Arnautovic with a cross.
• None Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
• None Goal! Stoke City 1, Liverpool 2. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Georginio Wijnaldum.
• None Attempt missed. Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the left.
• None Goal! Stoke City 1, Liverpool 1. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
• None Attempt blocked. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Sturridge. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page