City went down by two goals to nil at Anfield, but it was only due to a couple of goals that had more than a hint of luck for the hosts.
The Potters made five changes to the starting line up, and changed to a 4-5-1 formation with John Carew on his own up front, and were able to contain the hosts for the first half, before two second half strikes secured the win for the Reds.
The opening chance for Liverpool arrived after just three minutes when Kyrgiakos headed an inswinging Gerrard free kick towards goal but Diao was there to acrobatically clear the ball off the line and away from danger.
City hit back and Walters blazed an effort high over the bar before Carew nodded a Pennant cross inches wide of the far post.
Brave defending from Danny Higginbotham and Abdoulaye Faye then denied Gerrard as the defenders threw themselves at the feet of the Reds talisman and City keeper Begovic was on hand to punch a Meireles effort away from goal.
The City keeper then pulled off what can only be described as a world class save as he flung himself to his left to deny Glen Johnson a headed opener, saving from point blank range against the Reds full back.
Begovic was being work more and more the game went on and after he gratefully watched a Kuyt header drift wide he was forced into another top, top save to deny the Dutchman on the stroke of half time.
The second half started with the breaking of the deadlock as, after Diao had recklessly given away a free kick 30 yards out, Gerrard slammed in the free kick, the ball deflecting around the penalty area, off three of four players, before falling at the feet of Meireles who smashed it past a helpless Begovic from 10 yards.
The Spanish star nearly doubled the advantage on 66 minutes but his shot, after being teed up by freshly introduced debutant Suarez, flew wide of the post.
John Carew went close to equalising when he burst through on goal but his powerful shot flew across goal and just wide of the far post and that proved costly as the game was over as a contest moments later. Suarez was played in behind the defence, with Higginbotham nearly ten yards behind the rest of the City defence playing Suarez onside, and the former Ajax hitman rounded Begovic before rolling the ball into the empty net. The effort was nearly thwarted by Wilkinson who raced back in an attempt to clear but, after sliding in to hook the ball away, he could only divert the ball into the back of the net via the post.
There was one last chance for Stoke to get their first ever Premier League goal at Anfield but Walters saw his close range header saved by Reina.