Origi on the double as Reds punish Potters

Stoke’s run of just one defeat in seven Premier League games had propelled them towards the qualification places for next season’s Europa League - potentially at Liverpool’s expense.

But despite seeming to break their Anfield hoodoo with a Capital One Cup win here in January - which still ended with an aggregate defeat on penalties - Stoke have never won a top-flight game at Liverpool.

And normal service continued as a weakened Liverpool side won only a fourth home league game since the appointment of Jurgen Klopp as manager last October, with Daniel Sturridge and substitute Divock Origi, with two, sharing three goals between them in their duel to be recognised as the main man.

Klopp, who had preferred Origi as his loan striker in the 1-1 first leg draw in Dortmund, showed his hand ahead of the Anfield return by making seven changes to the side that had started in Germany.

Two of those were enforced with Jordan Henderson sustaining a knee injury that may keep him out for the remainder of the season and threaten his involvement in Euro 2016 and Emre Can starting a two-match domestic ban.

That left holes in central midfield plugged by Joe Allen and Kevin Stewart, who, like winger Sheyi Ojo, was handed a first Premier League start.

And Liverpool’s re-shaped side could not have made a better start on an afternoon of firsts as full-back Alberto Moreno accepted James Milner’s rolled free-kick to crack his opening goal of the season past Jakob Haugaard from 25 yards.

Moreno went close again with a forward burst ended by Haugaard’s blocking save but Stoke always carried a threat going forward and levelled after 22 minutes.

The impressive Xherdan Shaqiri was invariably their catalyst and when he floated in the perfect free kick, Bojan got behind Liverpool’s back line to nod home and claim Stoke’s first league goal at Anfield since 1983.

The visitors looked the better side at that point with Liverpool particularly vulnerable in the air with Anfield old boy Peter Crouch constantly on the prowl.

But 13 minutes before half time Liverpool went back in front thanks to Ojo’s big moment as the teenager delightfully beat Shaqiri and crossed for Sturridge to head in from close range.

That was to be Ojo’s last meaningful contribution as he was replaced at the break by Origi and that switch by Klopp had paid off within five minutes as Liverpool went 3-1 up to effectively secure only their second home league win since beating Leicester City on Boxing Day.

Despite the return from injury of captain Ryan Shawcross, Stoke’s defending was poor for most of the afternoon and they were slow to react again as Origi was left un-marked to head in a cross from Milner following a short corner routine.

Simon Mignolet made a decent save at the other end from a Geoff Cameron header but it was largely one-way traffic as Liverpool racked up four goals under Klopp at Anfield for the first time when Origi’s cross-shot was allowed to bend inside the far post with 25 minutes to go.

Source: Independent

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