STOKE 1-0 LIVERPOOL
Walters 21 (pen)
Att: 27,592
Stoke ended Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the season whilst conserving their own unbeaten start. Walters scored a first half penalty which was enough to give Stoke all three points and see them leap frog Liverpool and up to forth in league.
Stoke gave a debut to record signing Crouch after Jones had played twice for Trinidad & Tobago over the past fortnight whilst Palacios & Jerome could only make the bench.
Both sides started the game brightly with Stoke looking threatening from set pieces in particular with Crouch, Stoke were pressing right from the off with Walters making himself a nuisance which proved to be fruitful when winning the penalty.
Suarez had early effort for Liverpool after some uncharacteristic sloppy defending from Stoke but fortunately his shot sailed high over Begovic’s goal.
Shawcross then had an effort blocked by Skrtel from an Etherington free kick, Stoke staring to grow into the game and creating chances.
At the other end Suarez somehow failed to connect with Adam's in swinging corner to the far post from close range.
Liverpool then had a penalty shout when the ball seemed to make contact with Delap’s hand inside the box.
Stoke then broke away, the ball was played out to Pennant who knocked the ball over the top for Walters to chase. Walters out muscled Carragher and got goal side of the Liverpool captain but was then brought down after Carragher rapped his arm around him, a certain penalty.
Walters grabbed the ball straight away and put it on the spot, he missed his last penalty at Norwhich but he wanted to make a mends for that. Walters stepped up and smashed the ball straight down the middle of the goal to give a Stoke the lead.
After the goal Stoke then found themselves on the back foot which was set to be the tone for the rest of the game.
Just after Walters' penalty Suarez was only denied a goal after Shawcross threw himself at the ball after Begovic had been unable to hold Henderson's cross.
Suarez then wriggled free down the left and crossed for Skrtel who was unable to hit the ball cleanly under pressure from Etherington.
The second half began as the first had ended, Liverpool heaping pressure on the Stoke rearguard but strong and courageous defending denying them.
Just after the hour mark Stoke showed exactly what they were all about blocking five shots in the space of ten seconds.
Enrique put Henderson clean through down the middle but his first shot was produced an excellent save from the on rushing Begovic the ball then fell to Henderson again and his second shot produced a world class save from Begovic, Upson was then on hand to block his third effort the ball the broke to Adam who had his shot blocked by
Shawcross and then Begovic got back on his line to block Adam’s follow up.
Liverpool were throwing the kitchen sink at the Stoke back line but could not break it, Dalglish brought on £35 million striker Carroll and Bellamy but even they failed to make any in roads.
Pulis brought on Wilkinson for Huth who looked to have taken a knock, Jones and new boy Palacios were then introduced for Etherington and Delap who had worked overtime all afternoon defending Stokes lead.
Stoke were being forced back more and more and Whitehead had to put in the crunching block tackle inside his own penalty area which denied Suarez yet again. But it is not in the Uruguay international's nature to give up and he kept plugging away, seeing his shot across goal tipped wide by Begovic.
Stewart Downing cut inside from the right to blaze over, Carroll had a claim for a penalty when his shot appeared to hit the arm of Whitehead while Bellamy headed Downing's cross wide.
Suarez was convinced he should have had a spot-kick when his cross hit Upson's leg and bounced off his arm but neither referee Clattenburg nor his assistant saw anything wrong. Suarez was running over to the linesman and jumping up and down like a little girl protesting which saw him rightfully booked. Even after he was booked he continued to protest.
The striker had his chance to put that wrong right in the fourth minute of added time when Begovic and Shawcross got in each other's way but he stabbed wide with an open goal gaping.
Stoke were hanging on at the end - something they are well equipped and well-enough drilled to do - and they blunted everything Liverpool threw at them. A well deserved victory following an heroic display from the Potters, up to forth in the league the next stop for Stoke is Dynamo kiev in the Europa League.
Man of the Match: Shawcross, brave and strong display from the captain.
Ref: Mark Clattenburg
Stoke: Begovic, Huth (Wilkinson 64), Shawcross, Upson, Wilson, Pennant, Delap (Palacios 71), Whitehead, Etherington (Jones 68), Crouch, Walters
Subs: Sorenson, Shotton, Whelan, Jerome
Liverpool: Reina, Skrtel (Johnson 81), Aggar, Carragher, Enrique, Henderson (Bellamy 67), Downing, Lucas, Adam, Suarez, Kuyt (Carroll 67)
Subs: Doni, Coates, Maxi, Spearing