Liverpool 0-0 Stoke City

Liverpool and Stoke played out an uninspiring draw at Anfield in a game dominated by the home side.

The Reds edged possession in the early stages of the game, with Steven Gerrard pulling the strings in midfield, supported by the attack-minded Glen Johnson, but they failed to create too much in terms of clear-cut chances. Luis Suarez had the best chance of the opening quarter of an hour, when the striker slammed the ball into the legs of Ryan Shawcross after a lovely run from the halfway line, whilst seconds later Pepe Reina was forced to tip the ball over the bar from a Glenn Whelan shot. The hosts improved as the first half wore on, with Gerrard shooting from range and forcing Asmir Begovic to scramble down to his left to turn the ball around the post, before Daniel Agger steered the ball goalwards seconds later with a toe-poke from just yards out. The second half started in much the same way the first half ended, with Liverpool pushing forward in numbers in an attempt to break the deadlock, but Stoke holding their shape well in defence. Suarez almost got on the end of a little intricate pass from Gerrard in the box, but the Potters had enough bodies back to thump the ball clear. Minutes later, a shot from the excellent Johnson fell straight into the arms of Begovic before he shot wide from a fantastic cross-field ball from Gerrard. Suarez followed up another run from midfield with a stinging shot on the hour mark, but the ball skimmed the bar and went over. Liverpool's chances in the final 20 minutes were reduced to a shot from Raheem Sterling, which struck the outside of the post, and a shot from Suarez that hit the side netting. For all of their possession and half-chances, Liverpool can rightly feel aggrieved not to have won today, but they'll need to pick themselves up quickly if they want to start getting serious points on the board at this early stage of the season.