Liverpool vs Stoke player ratings: Roberto Firmino can’t ignite misfiring Reds as Potters miss chance to steal win
Man-for-man marking from the Premier League clash at Anfield
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool may have put five goals past Roma in midweek but they were unable to break down a resilient Stoke City, who keep their Premier League survival hopes alive for at least another week.
Despite the Champions League semi-final second leg in Rome looming large on Wednesday, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp chose to field a strong line-up that included both Roberto Firmino and top goalscorer Mohamed Salah, with the German looking to seal their place inside the top four and guarantee Champions League football again next season.
But they were unable to breach a stubborn Stoke defence, and Paul Lambert's side also managed to manufacture their own chances to snatch the three points they desperately need to try and stay up this season.
Salah had the best chance to score in the first half, with the Egyptian springing the offside trap and surging clear to move in one-on-one on goalkeeper Jack Butland. He succeeded in dinking the ball over the England 'keeper, but to everyone's surprise missed the target.
Stoke best opportunity to score came late in the second half, but Ryan Shawcross was unable to turn in Mame Biram Diouf's ball across goal-face of Loris Karius and the chance went begging.
The result leaves Liverpool nine points clear of fifth-place Chelsea, but Stoke are ominously three points off safety with two games remaining.
So how did the players perform? Click on the gallery above to find out.
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