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Stoke's Jon Walters celebrates the opener. Nigel French
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Stoke City v Liverpool, Premier League

Jurgen Klopp’s men were away to the Potters this afternoon.

THE LATEST ROUND of Premier League fixtures has already begun this afternoon with Tottenham’s 4-0 dismantling of Watford. That result leaves Spurs four points off leaders Chelsea, who are away to Bournemouth at 5.30pm.

Meanwhile, there are five 3pm kick-offs coming up:

PL 3pm

We’ll keep you up-to-date with each of the games, while focusing on Liverpool’s trip the bet365 Stadium — known better to you and me as the Britannia Stadium.

Kick-off is 30 minutes away.

And here’s the (slightly-odd) team news –

Ireland striker Jon Walters starts for the home side with ex-Liverpool players Glen Johnson and Joe Allen also in the Potters starting line-up.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has picked 17-year-old Ben Woodburn and fellow teenager Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield, with Brazilian pair Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino both on the bench. Very curious indeed.

 

The reasoning behind Coutinho’s omission:

The teams are out on the pitch, so we’re not away from getting started now. Time to get your predictions in:


Poll Results:

Liverpool win (197)
Stoke win (72)
Draw (54)

Stoke have the ball in the back of the net! Shaqiri finishes past Mignolet, but the Swiss star is ruled offside. No goal.

Stoke are on the front-foot here and, after a strong run from Johnson down the right, the visitors are forced to clear their lines a couple of times. You get the feeling that the Potters have been buoyed by the big-name absentees from the Liverpool team.

A well-worked attack from Stoke involving Walters, Shaqiri and Arnautovic lands at the feet of Berahino in Liverpool’s box, but the striker takes a touch and is forced wide of the goal.

Down the other end, Origi has a sight at goal but shoots well off-target.

SAVE – Arnautovic’s shot is straight at Mignolet after Walters’ lay-off and the Belgian goalkeeper has an easy stop to make.

Woodburn is down receiving treatment and Liverpool have a free-kick. Milner sends the ball to the back post but it’s headed away.

Reds youngster Woodburn has returned to the field.

Real chance for Stoke. Lovren can only send the ball into the air with an interception and Arnautovic attempts a first-time volley. It’s from an acute angle, however, and the ball crashes into the side-netting.

Liverpool attack down the right through Origi, and looks up in an attempt to pick out a team-mate. There are very few black shirts in the box though, and his cross is cut out for a corner.

GOAL! Stoke City 1-0 Liverpool (Jon Walters) 

The Potters are in front. Shakiri goes past Klavan easily and crosses to the front post, where the unmarked Walters heads home.

Klopp is furious on the touchline as he felt they should have had a penalty after Woodburn went down under a challenge from Pieters moments earlier.

Half-time: Stoke City 1-0 Liverpool

That’s a decent return from the Ireland favourite:

Double change at half-time: Klopp has withdrawn his two teenagers, Woodburn and Alexander-Arnold, and brought on Coutinho and Firmino.

Coutinho Firmino

YELLOW CARD – Klavan is the first man into referee Mike Dean’s book for a cynical block on Shaqiri.

Who did that stay out? Stoke will be kicking themselves that they haven’t added a second. Wijnaldum puts Liverpool in danger with a terrible header back into the box and the ball drops to Adam. He shoots at goal but Mignolet somehow manages to get his body behind it.

Now Liverpool are putting pressure on the Stoke goal and Grant has to palm over Firmino’s volley.

Minutes later, Clyne picks out Coutinho and he looks to find the bottom corner with a curling effort. Grant is on-hand to make another save.

The substitutes have already made a significant difference.

Off the bar! Liverpool are getting closer and they’ve just struck the woodwork. Lovren rises highest to head onto the crossbar from a corner.

Klavan fouls Shaqiri and he’s already been booked to this could be costly. Mike Dean awards the free-kick to Stoke but there’s no second yellow, for now.

Substitition… And it’s an All-Irish one: Walters makes way for Glenn Whelan as Mark Hughes looks to pack the midfield.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have just brought on Daniel Sturridge for Origi.

GOAL! Stoke City 1-1 Liverpool (Philippe Coutinho)

The Reds have one back. Whelan can only hook his clearance as far as Coutinho and the Liverpool substitute makes no mistake.

GOAL! Stoke City 1-2 Liverpool (Roberto Firmino) 

And now they’re in front! A wonderful strike from another one of the half-time changes, Firmino, turns the game on its head after Wijnaldum’s ball from deep.

Super stop! Beharino looks sure to score from Arnautovic’s cross but Mignolet gets across to keep it out.

Just four minutes of additional time to play…

Full-time: Stoke City 1-2 Liverpool 

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