Liverpool’s new signing Luis Suarez marked his debut with a goal as the Reds beat a well-organised Stoke side 2-0 at Anfield.
Raul Meireles opened the scoring before the Uruguayan came off the bench to seal all three points for Kenny Dalglish’s side, making it three wins from as many games for the Merseysiders.
The home crowd thought they had taken the lead within the first ten minutes after Reds defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos’s glancing header from a corner looked to be heading in, however Salif Diao was on hand to hook the ball off the line.
Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic pulled off a wonder save moments later to keep the visitors on level terms as he clawed Glen Johnson’s header to safety from Martin Kelly’s cross.
But while there was plenty of pressure applied on the Stoke goal, a combination of poor finishing and the inspired form of Begovic kept the visitors in the game as the first half came to a close.
Liverpool’s persistence paid off as soon as the second half kicked off.
Steven Gerrard’s deflected shot caused panic in the Stoke area as their backline failed to clear the ball, and midfielder Meireles made the most of the scramble by slamming the ball into the net from 12 yards for his second goal in three Premier League games.
The goal seemed to spring Stoke into life, and they almost drew level after John Carew’s shot flew inches wide of Pepe Reina’s upright.
Liverpool were looking to kill the game off, and with Andy Carroll’s thigh injury preventing him from making his debut, it was left to Suarez, Dalglish’s other new multi-million pound signing, to make his bow.
The forward, signed last week from Ajax for 23 million pounds, was greeted by rapturous applause as he made his way onto the pitch after 63 minutes in place of Fabio Aurelio, and marked his debut with a goal.
It took only sixteen minutes for the striker to make his mark, calmly rounding Begovic and slotting home after a neat through ball by Dirk Kuyt.
Jon Walters’s snap-shot was well saved by Reina in the dying moments as Stoke looked for a consolation, but Liverpool’s resurgence continued with a well-deserved win.