LIGI KUU ENGLAND:::LIVERPOOL WAJIPIGIA STOKE GOLI 5 KWA 3

It took a simple, four-word tweet from across the Atlantic to show why no-one will underestimate Liverpool when this pulsating season reaches its climax.
‘What a dynamic duo!’ said John W Henry in the moments after Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez had devastatingly combined to secure Liverpool’s first Barclays Premier League win at Stoke, a result which propelled them ominously back into the top four.
Some moments in this frantic 5-3 triumph will have left Brendan Rodgers appreciating that certain areas of his team require improvement – not least their slapdash defending – but, crucially, his forward line is in perfect working order.

Check me out: Luis Suarez flexes in front of his team-mates after scoring Liverpool's second

TUNAOMBA BOFYA HAPA NA ULIKE PAGE YETU KWA HABARI NYINGI ZA KILA SIKU,(USIPITWEEEEEEEE) 

Poacher: That was the Uruguayan's 21st of the season...

Initiative: He stole the ball away from goalkeeper Jack Butland after some calamitous Stoke defending

Unbelievable: Suarez made it 22 with a beautiful curled effort

What a deadly duo: Suarez and Daniel Sturridge celebrate Liverpool's fourth

Clincher: Sturridge came off the bench to seal the win for Brendan Rodgers' side at the Britannia Stadium

Suarez and Sturridge were only on the pitch for 25 minutes at the Britannia Stadium, as Rodgers looked to ease the England international back into the fray after a nine-match absence, but in that time, their pace and movement, understanding and finishing ripped Stoke apart.
They have now scored 17 times in the eight Premier League games they have lined-up together in this year. Should they maintain that ratio, the three sides above them in the table will not be afforded a moment’s peace.
This could prove to be a hugely significant afternoon in Liverpool’s campaign and the way Rodgers reacted at the final whistle – beaming from ear-to-ear, punching the air and waving to the visiting section as he headed for sanctuary in the dressing room – spoke volumes.
These are the games in which Liverpool have fallen short and their deficiencies have been frequently exposed at this stadium, as three consecutive defeats here illustrate. But this was different. From a point at which they could have folded, they summoned spirit and style to finish the job.
So even though Mark Hughes grumbled about the manner in which Stoke conceded the crucial third goal, insisting the 51st minute challenge from his defender Marc Wilson on Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling was not a penalty, he was quick to recognise what really made a difference.
Liverpool were leading 3-2 when Sturridge came on to replace Philippe Coutinho but his introduction transformed them and brought a new dimension from the perpetually threatening Suarez; Stoke’s defence will not be the last that is left spinning by the SAS.

Rodgers: For 38mins it was the perfect away performance

Hughes: Half time came too early for us

Fortunate: Aly Cissokho's shot cannoned off Ryan Shawcross to open proceedings, resulting as an own goal

I'll take it: The on-loan defender celebrated anyway, though

Calmly done: Steven Gerrard rolled home his penalty to put Liverpool back in front

For the fans: The skipper dedicates his goal to the travelling Liverpool crowd

Debatable: But should it have been a penalty?

 

‘It is good to have Daniel back as he’s a great player,’ said Suarez, who took his tally for the campaign to 22. ‘We played a long time without him and now he is back we are so happy. The team’s performance was more important than mine. We knew winning would be important for the future.’
Almost from the first whistle, it looked like it was going to be Liverpool’s day. The game was just four minutes old when Aly Cissokho had a wild swing at a cross from Sterling but, to his great surprise, his shot cannoned into Ryan Shawcross and wrong-footed Jack Butland.
That goal from the French left-back settled Liverpool’s nerves and, before long, the visitors had doubled their advantage, this time Suarez seized upon a dreadful mix-up between Wilson and Shawcross to slip a finish beyond the England Under 21 goalkeeper.
From that point, it should have been a cruise but, inexplicably, Liverpool took their foot off the pedal, lost concentration and made mistakes which were punished by two of their old boys immediately before half-time.
First Peter Crouch rose to divert Marko Arnautovic’s cross in from 12 yards before Charlie Adam seized upon a loose pass from Jordan Henderson to ram a 25-yard drive past Simon Mignolet and turn the game upside down.
‘For 38 minutes it was the perfect away performance,’ said Rodgers. ‘Then all of sudden it got to 2-2. I didn't want to focus too much on that at half-time. I said to the players if we keep making mistakes like that we'll lose games. I thought our response was brilliant.’
But it was given a controversial kick-start. The pendulum swung back in Liverpool’s favour when Sterling charged down Wilson’s attempted clearance with his arm and set off on a run that ended with him having his legs clipped and being sent sprawling in front of the Liverpool fans.

Strike: Charlie Adam grabbed Stoke's equaliser with a fine effort from long range

Old boy: Former Liverpool player Adam didn't know whether to apologise or celebrate!

Chance: Peter Crouch gave Stoke belief with a header from a fine cross

SUPER STAT

Stoke conceded five in a top-flight home game for first time since losing 5-1 to Liverpool in March 1982.

So outraged was Hughes with the award of a penalty against Marc Wilson, he hurled a bottle of water on the floor in disgust before berating the match officials. His mood darkened further when Steven Gerrard, on his 650th appearance, sent Butland the wrong way.
‘I would call that a Spanish penalty, which means that if you get it you are happy,’ conceded Rodgers. ‘Mark (Hughes) would be aggrieved with that, to be honest.’
Yet if that was contentious, the fourth goal was magnificent. Sturridge, having picked up the rhythm of the game instantly, hoodwinked Stoke’s defence, slipping a ball with the outside of his left foot into the path of his partner. Suarez didn’t break stride and bent a superb drive past Butland.

4-3: Jonathan Walters struck to put Stoke back in the game AGAIN

Off balance: Steven Gerrard and Charlie Adam battle for the ball in midfield

Still Liverpool couldn’t relax and they conceded another cheap goal in the 83rd minute when Jon Walters’ tame shot skidded past Mignolet – Rodgers and Gerrard both went berserk at the Belgian keeper – but Sturridge ensured there was no calamity with a brilliant finish four minutes later.
‘It was all about the team performance and the three points,’ said Gerrard. ‘It’s results like this that we need if we are going to finish in the top four.’
That is true. With the ‘Dynamic Duo’ in tandem, however, Liverpool’s ambitions could yet end up being significantly grander, as a simple, three word observation from Rodgers confirmed. Anything is possible.

In the air: The Liverpool captain, along with Lucas, tries to combat Stoke's direct style

Back in action: Fit-again striker Daniel Sturridge was on the substitutes bench