Suarez Debuts With Goal On Anfield (Video)
Lucas congratulating Suarez
Luis Suarez has crowned his Liverpool debut with a great goal against Stoke City. The Reds upset Tony Pullis’s side 2-0 last night on Anfield after a goalless first half.
Kenny Dalglish kept the Uruguayan on the bench until the 63rd minute, hoping the new striker would score and make Torres name forgotten. Suarez replaced Aurelio in the 63rd minute to crown his debut with a superb goal just 15 minutes later. The 24-year-old forward dribbled keeper Begovic to strike it home for game over.
Liverpool dominated the entire game, especially the first half that saw Kuyt missing two clear opportunities and Stoke City defense clearing Kyrgiakos fifth minute header. Carew was also very close form the opening. Pennant’s great play found the striker inside the box, but shooting just wide. Kuyt would miss his third chance three minutes before the half time. Lucas fed the Dutch winger with a superb pass that continued with Kuyt’s show and Begovic’s great save. Suarez was surely thinking about his debut.
But hardly did the second half begin that Liverpool took the lead. Meireless brought the opening goal just two minutes into the second term. Gerrard’s ball rebounded back to the midfielder who powered home from 12 yards. Stoke reply came in the 61st minute. Pennant served Carew once again, but Norwegian’s finisher went just wide.
The 22.8 million pound number seven, Luis Suarez, made it 2-0 to attract lot of sympathy among the Red fans who burned Torres’s jersey a couple a days ago after the Spaniard chose to leave Liverpool and join defending champions Chelsea for a five-year deal. However, the scoreboard remained unchanged until the final whistle as Liverpool won three important points that keep their chances for a top position alive.
Suarez hasn’t even had the chance to meet the team very well, but must be very happy to prove that no accommodation is needed. Dalglish, too, looked very surprised: “Because the administrative stuff had to be sorted out, he hadn’t trained with the boys. He got his work permit yesterday and was in the squad tonight, so when he starts training with the lads I think we may see a wee improvement.”
Reds’ boss would also praise Kuyt’s hard working. “It’s a great start to score on your debut and he worked hard. He and Dirk linked up well a couple of times. Dirk Kuyt played very well for us up there.” The three points allow Liverpool stay seven – but in cards for a sixth position – in the Premiership standings. They have 35 points in 25 games and sit just two points behind Sunderland.
Chelsea will host them next Sunday at the Stamford Bridge, the place where Reds’ former star Fernando Torres is already training. As for Stoke City, they are to host Sunderland on Saturday.
Premier League results:
Birmingham City 1 – 1 Manchester City
Fulham 1 – 0 Newcastle United
Bolton Wanderers 1 – 0 Wolves
Blackpool 1 – 3 West Ham United
West Bromwich 2 – 2 Wigan Athletic
Manchester United 3 – 1 Aston Villa
Arsenal 2 – 1 Everton
Sunderland 2 – 4 Chelsea
