EPL: Liverpool 0-0 Stoke

Danny Ings had a goal disallowed

Stoke kept alive their slim hopes of Premier League survival with a 0-0 draw at an unusually lacklustre Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime.

Despite picking a strong side that included Mohamed Salah, Jurgen Klopp's men seemed to have one eye on their midweek Champions League trip to Roma as they mustered just two shots on target at Anfield.

Klopp's men had averaged a goal every 39 minutes at home this season but could only really point to a glaring one-on-one miss from Salah and a disallowed Danny Ings strike as clear-cut chances.

 

The result takes Stoke to within three points of safety, although Swansea - who host Chelsea in the late game on Saturday - have two games in hand. Stoke will only be able to reach a points total (36) that has - at best - guaranteed survival 50 per cent of the time over the past 10 Premier League seasons.

 

Liverpool remain the only unbeaten side at home this season in England's top four tiers and if they avoid defeat against Brighton at Anfield in their final game, then it would be only the second time in 30 seasons that the Reds have gone an entire league season unbeaten at home.

 

There was a real collectors' item for Liverpool fans in the opening minutes as Salah raced through, one-on-one with Jack Butland, but lifted an effort wide of the post when he looked certain to score.

 

Salah then turned provider for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who only had Butland to beat from 10 yards but could not turn the ball home.

 

Stoke countered and almost broke the deadlock as a ball played right across the face of goal only just evaded a finishing touch from Mame Biram Diouf or Peter Crouch. Meanwhile, Ings had the ball in the net on the stroke of half-time but it was ruled out for offside.

Liverpool maintained their stranglehold of possession in the second period but Stoke - with Darren Fletcher added to their midfield, replacing Crouch - were well organised and rarely troubled.

For a team that have scored 128 goals across all competitions this season, Liverpool looked short on ideas, although they had a good shout for a handball inside the area by Erik Pieters, which was turned down.

 

The visitors saw out the final stages very comfortably.

Stoke, who could have nicked it late on through Ryan Shawcross, have still never won a top-tier fixture away at Liverpool in 55 attempts (D12 L43) but this could be a season-saving result.